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Donnella
How to Pronounce Donnella
Pronounced duh-NEL-uh /dəˈnɛl.ə/Medium
Meaning: Donnella is a feminine elaboration of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, meaning 'world ruler' (from dubno- 'world' and val- 'rule'); the -ella ending was a popular way to build a girl's name from a familiar boy's name in the early to mid twentieth century.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Donnella is a feminine form of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, 'world ruler.' The -ella ending reflects the mid-twentieth-century habit of feminizing established boys' names for daughters, often to honor a father named Donald.
It was never common, given to only about eighteen girls a year at its 1970 peak, and it faded from records by the mid-2000s. It reads today as a distinctly vintage, heritage-rooted choice.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Donnella mean?
It is a feminine form of Donald, from the Scottish Gaelic Domhnall, meaning 'world ruler.'
How do you pronounce Donnella?
It is said duh-NEL-uh /dəˈnɛl.ə/, three syllables with the stress on the second.
Is Donnella a boy or girl name?
Donnella is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Donnella?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about eighteen girls a year at its peak around 1970.