The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Donna!

Comments and insights on the name Donna: | Edit

Now in 2011 I am 25 and from what I have read it wasn't a very popular name in the 80's when i was born! i was going to be called Tammy which i don't think i would have liked as much lol...Growing up I had 2 other girls called Donna in my year so i suppose it was more popular then people think lol.....my middle name is Rozina which is Latin for Rose and Donna means lady so i am Lady Rose! i love that!!!!

Personal experiences with the name Donna: | Edit

Growing up in the 50's and 60's there were many Donnas. When I lived in a small town, there were 4 of us in the same grade and we had to use initials or middle names along such as "Donna Sue". And as I mention the middle names, I have been stuck over the years with people giving me nicknames such as the aforementioned "Donna Sue", or "Donna Lou", even though my middle name is different and even though I've never met another Donna with it, I still get called by those nicknames. Now, there aren't so many Donnas and it is kind of nice to have a name meaning "lady". My middle name means "noble", so I'm a noble lady.

I was in the same boat... always had to use my last initial to distinguish myself in grade school from all the other Donnas. I have a brother named Todd and he had the same problem. In fact another family on our street had a Donna and a Todd the same ages as us. As an adult, I used to think it was a drag to have such a dated name. But now I think it's kitchy and cool. There are lots of dated names, like Tracy, Linda, etc. but none are as cool as Donna. The name conjures up images of big hair and flower power! Todd is also pretty great, if you like surfing.

I had the same problem...5 Donnas in my class through elementary school. We all had to use our last initial, mine was K. Everyone ended up thinking I was Donna Kay and it stuck. I lived with it but always felt sorry for Donna P. : ) Kid's can be mean, parents keep that in mind please. If you are going to give your child an extremely common name, they will probably have to use an add on. Finally, though I have ALWAYS wanted to change my name, I too appreciate the meaning. My middle name means pure, so Lady pure is nice.

I was the only Donna in my school... But then, I was born in the mid-1970's, and the name had lost popularity. I was named after the fireman who delivered me (Don), and my middle name is my father's name (Jean). Named after 2 men... kinda funny that Donna means lady. I have never felt my name suited me... is this a Donna trait, or just me?

My mother's name is Donna. I guess it was popular in the 50's

I was born in 1996, way after the name had peaked. My dad named me Donna because he felt it was a very feminine name and I wouldn't have the issue of having another person with the same name in school or whatever, which is true. I am the only Donna my age, and all the other ones I have met are in their 40s and 50s. It is actually pretty name, meaning lady, and goes well with other names such as Jo, Sue, Kay, Marie, etc. My middle name is Marie, which means star of the sea, so I am technically Lady of the Sea. Which is ironic, because I get very seasick. haha :P

Nicknames for Donna: | Edit

Donna Lou, Donna Sue, Donnie, Donna Lee

Meanings and history of the name Donna: | Edit

Italian origin. Means "lady."

Famous real-life people named Donna: | Edit

Donna Lewis, singer
Donna Summer, singer
Donna Reed, actress
Donna Douglas, actress
Donna D'Erricco, actress
Donna DeLory, singer
Donna Dixon, actress
Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton
Donna Karan, fashion designer
Donna Tartt, author
Donna Fargo, singer
Donna Rice, sex scandal celebrity
Donna Feldman, model
Donna Mills, actress

Donna in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Afternoon Tea" by The Kinks
Character on "That 70s Show"
Character on "Twin Peaks"
"Oh Donna" by Ritchie Valens
"Donna" by Bob Marley
"Who's Holdin' Donna Now?" by DeBarge
In radio: "The Donna Syndrome" on Car Talk (Every woman who drives a Firebird or Camaro is named Donna)
Rock band "The Donnas"
Donna Noble, companion in "Doctor Who"
Donna Martin, character on Beverly Hills 90210 played by Tori Spelling
Donna Troy, the previous Wonder Girl, Wonder Woman's younger sister
"Donna, the Prima Donna" by Dion