Holding steady.
Popularity of Donzella since 1921
Babies named Donzella per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 40 |
| 1930s | 36 |
| 1940s | 50 |
| 1950s | 185 |
| 1960s | 64 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Donzella is a rare feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1921, but it never achieved widespread popularity. Its peak usage came in 1950, when it ranked 3,222, and it has remained a vintage rarity ever since. The name's uncertain origin adds an air of mystery: it may derive from the Italian 'donzella' meaning 'young lady', or it could be an American invention combining Donna and the fashionable suffix -zella. With no modern revival and a stable trajectory, Donzella remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking an uncommon early 20th century name.
Donzella is a rare feminine given name that likely arose in the early 20th century, possibly as a diminutive or variant of the Italian 'donzella' meaning 'young lady' or 'maiden'. Alternatively, it may be an American coinage combining the popular name Donna with the suffix -zella, seen in names like Zella. The name saw modest use in the United States from the 1920s into the 1960s, peaking in 1950 at rank 3,222 but never breaking into the top 1,000. Today it is considered a vintage name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Donna, Zella, Donnie, Ella
Sibling names for Donzella
Names that share Donzella's style, for a brother or sister.
