What Does the Name Donna Mean?
Donna is a girl's name of Italian (from Latin) origin meaning “lady, woman.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Donna |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Italian (from Latin) |
| Meaning | lady, woman |
| Variants | Madonna, Donella, Ladonna, Donnie, Dona |
| Popularity | A top 10 US girls' name in the 1950s-1960s |
The meaning and origin of Donna
The name Donna means “lady, woman” and has Italian (from Latin) origins. From the Italian donna, meaning 'lady' or 'woman' (from the Latin domina, 'mistress of the house'), historically a title of respect. It became a popular American given name in the mid-20th century.
Variants and related names
Donna is related to several other names you may recognize: Madonna, Donella, Ladonna, Donnie, Dona. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Donna?
A top 10 US girls' name in the 1950s-1960s
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Donna below.
Generate a fake Donna profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Donna? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Donna mean?+
The name Donna means “lady, woman” and is of Italian (from Latin) origin.
What is the origin of the name Donna?+
Donna originates from Italian (from Latin).
Is Donna a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Donna has trended in the US over time.
Donna by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press