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Donna

Girl name · 5,952 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Donna: 5,952 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 454 births in 1976.

Italian in origin, Donna comes directly from the Italian word *donna* meaning "lady," a title of respect that ultimately traces back to the Latin *domina* ("mistress of the house"). It entered English use as a given name in the early 20th century, gaining particular popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. One of its most famous bearers is the American singer and actress Donna Summer, the undisputed "Queen of Disco." The singer Donna Lewis, known for her 1990s hit "I Love You Always Forever," also brought the name to modern attention. The name also shares its root with the Scottish place name Donnibristle, though this connection is more etymological than direct. A notable variant is the Scottish Gaelic form Dòmhnall, though this is a distinct name meaning "world ruler." Interestingly, while Donna feels distinctly modern, its ancient root in *domina* gives it an unexpected depth of meaning for a name that shone brightest in the mid-20th century.