Holding steady.
Popularity of Donalda since 1898
Babies named Donalda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1929, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Donalda's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 16 |
| 1910s | 67 |
| 1920s | 108 |
| 1930s | 119 |
| 1940s | 104 |
| 1950s | 119 |
| 1960s | 70 |
| 1970s | 15 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Donalda is a rare Scottish feminine given name that did not appear in U.S. records until 1898. It reached its peak rank in 1904, during the early 20th century, but never entered the top 1000 names. As of 2025, Donalda's trajectory is stable, meaning its usage has remained consistently low over recent decades. The name is almost exclusively given to girls, reflecting its role as the feminine form of Donald. Because of its rarity, Donalda has no top states associated with it; it appears sporadically across the country. The name offers a distinctive choice for families seeking a Scottish heritage name that is both traditional and uncommon.
Donalda is the feminine form of Donald, derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Domhnall, which itself comes from the Proto-Celtic elements *dubno- 'world' and *wal- 'to rule'. The name has been used in Scotland since medieval times, with the English form Donald becoming common in the 19th century. The feminine Donalda emerged in the late 19th century, particularly in North America, as a pairing for Donald.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Donnie, Donna, Dolly
Sibling names for Donalda
Names that share Donalda's style, for a brother or sister.
