Donalda
Feminine · “A feminine of Donald”
Donalda is Donald made into a daughter's name the Scottish way, with an -a at the end. The habit produced a whole family of Highland names, and one of its bearers, Donaldina, became the protector of Chinatown's trafficked girls.
How old is the name Donalda?
Donalda first appears in US birth records in 1898 — 127 years ago. The typical Donalda alive today was born around 1939, making them about 86 years old. About 300 people named Donalda are estimated to be alive in the US today.
When was the name Donalda most popular?
Donalda peaked in 1904, reaching #1659 nationally. See the whole 1904 chart.
Where it comes from
From Dòmhnall to Donalda
The story of Donalda
In the Scottish Highlands a daughter was often named for her father by adding -a or -ina to his name, giving Donalda, Williamina, Jamesina, Thomasina and Hughina — names that sound invented to outsiders but were ordinary there. Donaldina Cameron, born in New Zealand to Scottish parents, came to San Francisco and from the 1890s ran the Presbyterian Mission Home in Chinatown, where for four decades she and her staff rescued and sheltered thousands of Chinese girls and young women who had been trafficked. Donalda came to America with Scottish families at the end of the nineteenth century.
Meaning
A feminine of Donald, 'world ruler'
Donald is the Gaelic Dòmhnall, usually read as 'ruler of the world'. Donalda adds a feminine -a.
How the name formed
- Dòmhnall
- Donald
- Donalda
Related forms: Dòmhnall · Donaldina · Donald
Pronouncing Donalda
don-AL-duh
Three syllables with the stress on the second.
Nicknames for Donalda
Moderate
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1898
- Most girls named
- 192917 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #1659reached in 1904
- Change vs 1974
- 0.0%5 in 1976, from 5
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Donalda in other languages
The same name elsewhere
- Dòmhnall in Scottish Gaelic — related form
- Donaldina in English — related form
- Donald in English — related form
Donaldas among us
people named Donalda are estimated to be alive in the US today
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
Questions parents actually ask
Fashion outlook
Donalda sits outside the current charts, and that is its own kind of answer: naming cycles can only date the names they carried up. A name this rare has no decade stamped on it — it cannot go out of fashion, because it was never in.
Based on 146 years of naming cycles. How we read them
The trade-off
- A settled meaning through Donald.
- Part of a real Scottish naming tradition.
- Very rare, so a Donalda is unlikely to share her name.
- Outside Scotland it will sound invented to many people.
- Donald Duck will come to mind for children.
- It reads as an old-fashioned name.
Nobody names a baby alone.
Put Donalda to the vote.
Add it to a family vote or a couple’s swipe deck — the other person gets one card, a simple answer and room to say why. No app, no account for them.
Only the people you invite can see your list.
Already decided on Donalda? Hide it among decoys and let them guess.
What they receive
Someone added a name to your list
Donalda
Feminine
Frequently asked
- How many Donaldas are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. About 300 people named Donalda are estimated to be alive in the US today.
- How popular is the name Donalda in 2025?
- Donalda is rarely given in the US today — it does not rank in the top 2000 girl names.
- Will my child share the name Donalda with classmates?
- Donalda will almost certainly be the only one in school.
More D names
The most-given names starting with D, all years combined.
Dorothy#421 · Donna#1962 · Deborah#862 · Debra#4460 · Diane#2607 · Doris#2895 · Denise#1673 · Danielle#549
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Donalda? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Donalda and another name?
See them side by side — full stats, history and a gentle verdict.
Compare side by sideIn a hurry? Just pick a winner — one tap, no sign-up, and you see how everyone else voted.
Weighing a whole shortlist? Add the rest in the builder, or settle it with a bracket.
Cast your vote
Which one would you pick?
Your gut first, the numbers after — the split shows once you pick.
US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
No advertising trackers and no data sellinghow we handle your dataindependent and founder-run, about Name Battle