Donna is an English-language feminine first name meaning 'woman' in modern Italian, and 'lady' or 'mistress' in classical Italian. The original meaning is closer to 'lady of the home' and was a title of respect in Italy, equivalent to Don for gentlemen or lord. It is a common given name in the United States, particularly in Chicago, Florida, New York City, and Washington. It is rare as a surname.
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People with the given name
Donna Adelson (born 1950), American convicted murderer
Donna Air (born 1979), English actress
Donna Alvermann, American educator and researcher
Donna Andrews, American author
Donna Axum (1942–2018), American beauty pageant winner, author, television executive producer, philanthropist and model
Donna Baird, American epidemiologist and evolutionary-population biologist
Donna Barnes, American politician
Donna J. Boley (born 1935), American politician
Donna Brazile, American political activist
Donna Bruton (1954–2012), American painter, educator
Donna Burke, Australian singer, voice actress and businesswoman
Donna Christensen (born 1945), American physician and politician
Donna Cruz, Filipino pop singer
Donna Deegan (born 1961), American politician
Donna D'Errico, American actress
Donna Dixon, American actress
Donna Doore, American politician
Donna Douglas, American actress
Donna Edwards, American politician
Donna Ellis, American politician
Donna Fargo, American country singer
Donna M. Felling, American politician
Donna Feore (born 1963), Canadian choreographer and theatre director
Donna Ferrato (born 1949), American photojournalist and activist
Donna Gabaccia (born 1949), American historian
Donna Givens, American politician from Alabama
Donna Jean Godchaux (1947–2025), American singer
Donna Gould (born 1966), Australian cyclist
Donna Hanover (born 1950), American journalist, radio and television personality, and actress
Donna Haraway, American philosopher
Donna Harpauer, Canadian politician
Donna Howard (born 1951), American politician
Donna Hylton, Jamaican-American kidnapper and murderer
Donna Karan, American fashion designer
Donna Kelce, American former banker
Donna Kellogg (born 1978), English badminton player
Donna Keogh, British missing person
Donna Kirkland, Australian politician
Donna Kossy (born 1957), American writer
Donna Ladd (born 1961), American journalist
Donna Langley (born 1968), British film executive, and chairwoman of Universal Pictures
Donna Leon (born 1942), American novelist
Donna Lewis, Welsh singer
Donna Loren (born 1947), American singer and actress, the Dr Pepper Girl in the 1960s
Donna Lynne (born 1953), American politician
Donna Maguire, Provisional Irish Republican Army member
Donna Mayhew, American javelin thrower
Donna McKechnie (born 1942), American actress
Donna Mergler, Canadian physiologist
Donna Mills, American actress who played Abby Cunningham on Knots Landing
Donna Mombourquette, American politician
Donna Morrissey, Canadian author
Donna Murphy (born 1959), American stage and film actress
Donna Nelson (born 1954), American chemist and professor
Donna Orender (born 1957), American Women's Pro Basketball League All-Star guard and former WNBA president
Donna Pescow, American actress
Donna Reed, American actress
Donna Ritchie (born 1963), Australian wheelchair basketball player
Donna Robertson (born 1969), Scottish judoka and wrestler
Donna Rozar (born 1950), American politician, businesswoman, and nurse
Donna Rubin (born 1959), American tennis player
Donna Scott-Mottley, Jamaican politician
Donna Schlachman (born 1949), American politician
Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton
Donna Strickland, Canadian physicist and Nobel laureate 2018
Donna Summer (1948–2012), American singer, notably of disco music
Donna Tartt, American writer
Donna Testerman (born 1960), mathematician
Donna Vekić, Croatian tennis player
Donna Wilkes (born 1958), American actress
Donna Zuckerberg (born 1987), American classicist, feminist, and writer
Fictional characters
Donna Bishop, character in Home and Away
Donna Berzatto, character on The Bear
Donna Cabonna, character in That's So Raven
Donna Duck, character in the 1937 Disney short Don Donald
Donna Clark (née Emerson), a character in Halt and Catch Fire
Donna Freedman, character in Neighbours
Donna Hayward, character in Twin Peaks
Donna Henshaw, a character in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Donna Logan, character in The Bold and the Beautiful
Donna Ludlow, character in EastEnders
Donna Martin, character in Beverly Hills, 90210
Donna Meagle, main character in Parks and Recreation
Donna Moss, main character in The West Wing
Donna Noble, character in Doctor Who
Donna Paulsen, character in Suits
Donna Pinciotti, character That 70s Show
Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!
Donna Troy aka "Wonder Girl", character from DC Comics