The baby name Donella is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /dəˈnɛlə/ or /dɒˈnɛlə/ (duh-NEL-uh or doh-NEL-uh).
Donella is Italian in Origin.
The baby name Donella is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /dəˈnɛlə/ or /dɒˈnɛlə/ (duh-NEL-uh or doh-NEL-uh).
Donella is Italian in Origin.
Donella is a feminine given name of mainly Scottish and English use, formed as a feminine elaboration of Donald, from the Gaelic Domhnall (from elements meaning “world” and “rule”), yielding the sense “ruler of the world.” In some contexts it is also treated as an Italian‑tinged development of Donna, with the fashionable ‑ella ending lending a softer, lyrical character.
The name appears in Scottish records from the 19th century and gained modest Anglophone currency in the mid‑20th century; American environmental scholar Donella Meadows helped bring it to wider notice. Related forms include Donalda and Donelda (Scottish feminine counterparts to Donald) and the modern spellings Donelle and Donnella. Cognates on the masculine side are Donald and the Gaelic Domhnall. Nicknames such as Dona, Nella, and Nell are common, balancing sturdy heritage with gentle appeal.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT | Girls | 0 | #153 | 1 | 3,773 |
| CR | 0 | #165 | 1 | 5,526 | |
| EC | Girls | 0 | #258 | 1 | 3,650 |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #278 | 1 | 7,507 |
| MY | 0 | #353 | 2 | 12,352 | |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #359 | 1 | 8,829 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #429 | 1 | 13,098 |
| MX | 0 | #445 | 1 | 8,339 | |
| CO | 0 | #509 | 2 | 7,768 | |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #522 | 2 | 11,913 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #535 | 2 | 6,731 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #915 | 1 | 14,098 |
| United States | Girls | 2018 | #920 | 6 | 9,057 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 1 | 14,861 |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,048 | 412 | 9,415 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,146 | 7 | 16,140 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,254 | 1 | 19,440 |
Donella is popular in 19 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!