Meaning: Its source is domina, a Latin name meaning "Lady of the house."
Languages: This girl's name is used in English, Italian, Spanish and Scots Gaelic.
Alternative Spellings: Dawna
Variant Forms: Dona, Donella, Donelle, Donetta, Donette, Donia, Donica, Donielle, Donnetta, Donnette, Donya, Ladonna, Ladonne and Ladonya
Popularity: The name Donna ranked 707th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 17th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.
Narrative: This name comes to English through an identical Italian word (meaning ''lady'') used as a title of respect rather than a personal name.
Among the Scots it is regarded as a feminine form of Donald.
Arts and Music
- ''Donna''
- Words by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, music by Galt MacDermot (see list of Names in Song titles)
- Donna Fargo
- Winner of the 1972 Country Music Association Song of the Year award, for ''''The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.'''' (see list of Country Music Association Award Winners)
Leadership
- Donna Christensen (born 1945)
- Delegate from the Virgin Islands, 1997- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- Donna Dubinsky
- 4th Most Powerful Woman, President and CEO, Handspring (see list of 2000 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)
- Donna E. Shalala (born 1941)
American educator and government official. President of Hunter College, 1980-88; chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, 1988-93.
- U.S. secretary of health and human services, 1993- (see list of Women Cabinet Members)
Miscellaneous
- Donna Axum
- 1964 Miss America titleholder, representing Arkansas (see list of Miss America Winners)
- Donna Faske Karan
- American fashion designer (see list of Fashion Designers)
- 1975 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
- Donna Peale
- American model (see list of Fashion Models)
- Donna de Varona
American swimmer.
- 1964 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Sports
- Donna Adamek
- Member of the Women''s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Donna Caponi
- 1969-70 U.S. Women''s Open golf tournament winner (see list of U.S. Open Golf Champions)
- 1979, 1981 Ladies'' Professional Golf Association champion (see list of LPGA Champions)
- Donna de Varona
American swimmer.
- 1964 Olympic swimming gold medal winner in 400m Individual Medley (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Individual Medley)
- Donna Zimmerman
- Member of the Women''s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
Stage and Screen
- Donna Abandando
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Gail O''Grady (see list of Characters on ''NYPD Blue'')
- Donna Hayward
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Lara Flynn Boyle (see list of Characters on ''Twin Peaks'')
- Donna Hudson
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''Another World'''' (see list of Characters on ''Another World'')
- Donna Martin
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Tori Spelling (see list of Characters on ''Beverly Hills 90210'')
- Donna McKechnie
Dancer and actress.
- 1976 Tony Award winner for her performance in A Chorus Line (see list of Tony Winners for Best Actress in a Musical)
- Donna Murphy
American actress.
- 1996 Tony Award winner for her performance in the musical The King and I . (see list of Tony Winners for Best Actress in a Musical)
- Donna Reed (born 1921, died 1986)
American actress.
- 1953 Academy Award winner for her performance in From Here to Eternity (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Supporting Actress)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Donna Summer (born 1948)
American disco singer. Original name: LaDonna Andrea Gaines.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Donna Taft
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Jacqueline Scott (see list of Characters on ''The Fugitive'')
The Literary World
- Donna Trenton
Fictional character.
- Tad''s mother in Stephen King''s novel Cujo (see list of Characters in Cujo)
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| Dona | ![]() |
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| Donia | ![]() |
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| Donni | ![]() |
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| Donnie | ![]() |
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| Donya | ![]() |
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| Daina | ![]() |
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| Dana | ![]() |
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| Danae | ![]() |
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| Danee | ![]() |
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| Dani | ![]() |
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| Danie | ![]() |
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| Danna | ![]() |
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| Danne | ![]() |
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| Danni | ![]() |
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| Dannie | ![]() |
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| Danny | ![]() |
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| Dany | ![]() |
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| Dawna | ![]() |
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| Dayna | ![]() |
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| Deane | ![]() |
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| Deann | ![]() |
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| Deanne | ![]() |
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| Deeann | ![]() |
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| Deena | ![]() |
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| Demi | ![]() |
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Donut
- Donkey
- Don Juan
- Donna Wanna?
- Donnasaur
- Madonna
- Donna Ponna
Associations:
"Oh Donna" is a famous Richie Valens song.








