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Home › Baby Names Directory › Donalda

Donalda

♀ Girl

Pronounced duh-NAHL-duh /dəˈnɑl.də/Medium

Meaning: Donalda is the feminine form of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, joining domhan, world, with a root meaning rule, so world ruler. It arose where families wanted a girl's version of a favorite Scottish name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Donalda is the feminine of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic for world ruler. An early-century heritage choice, it was given to only a handful of girls a year (said duh-NAHL-duh).
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Origin MediumScottish, Gaelic
MeaningDonalda is the feminine form of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, joining domhan, world, with a root meaning rule, so world ruler. It arose where families wanted a girl's version of a favorite Scottish name.
U.S. rank (1976)#9684 ↘ Falling
1976 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1929
Total births (all-time)≈ 623

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195818981976

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Donalda is a feminine coinage from Donald, whose Scottish Gaelic source Domhnall means world ruler, from domhan, world. Such -a feminizations were a common way to honor a father or grandfather's name in a daughter, and Donalda appeared among Scottish and Scottish-American families in that spirit.

Donalda was never common, given to only a handful of girls a year around the late nineteen-twenties, and it faded well before mid-century. A woman named Donalda from that era belongs to a great-grandparent generation now.

Did you know? Donalda was a natural way for Scottish-descended families to pass a beloved name like Donald down to a daughter rather than a son.
Overall data confidence 70%
References - Donalda — Feminine of Donald; Gaelic Domhnall world ruler

Variations

DonaldinaDonellaDonalyn

Nicknames

DonnaDona

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Donalda…

Donna— a like short feminine of Donald-style names
Donella— a similar feminine of Donald
Geraldine— a comparable feminized man's name
Donelda— shares the -da ending
Clyda— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Donalda

By themerarevintagescottishfeminization

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Donalda mean?

It means world ruler, the meaning of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall.

How do you pronounce Donalda?

It is said duh-NAHL-duh /dəˈnɑl.də/, three syllables with the stress in the middle.

Is Donalda a boy or girl name?

Donalda is used as a girl's name, the feminine of Donald.

How popular is Donalda?

It was always rare, given to only a handful of girls a year around the late nineteen-twenties.

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