When was Donna most popular?

The name Donna reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Donna Riley?

The name Donna Riley combines two different traditions: the first name Donna has Italian roots, while the surname Riley originates from Irish.

Donna Riley — 904K & 134K bearers

Donna Riley is a name combining Italian origins, bringing together "lady" (Donna) with "courageous" (Riley). The first name Donna is a feminine given name of Italian origin. From Italian donna (lady, woman), from Latin domina (mistress). Used as a first name mainly in English-speaking countries from the 1940s. The surname Riley: Riley is a surname of English origin, as well as an Anglicized version of an Irish surname. The name has the meaning "rye clearing", or is from one of several placenames, including High Riley in Accrington, Lancashire, and in Devon. In the United Kingdom Census 1881, more than a third of Rileys were in Lancashire; it was most prevalent in the east of the county and over the boundary into the Calder Valley in Yorkshire, and the name could be found in these areas from the 13th century. The name is also an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Reilly. Donna is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 904K people globally, with the highest concentration in Italy. The name Donna reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Donna

Meaning: lady

Italian

From Italian donna (lady, woman), from Latin domina (mistress). Used as a first name mainly in English-speaking countries from the 1940s.

Surname: Riley

Meaning: courageous

Irish

Riley is a surname of English origin, as well as an Anglicized version of an Irish surname. The name has the meaning "rye clearing", or is from one of several placenames, including High Riley in Accrington, Lancashire, and in Devon. In the United Kingdom Census 1881, more than a third of Rileys were in Lancashire; it was most prevalent in the east of the county and over the boundary into the Calder Valley in Yorkshire, and the name could be found in these areas from the 13th century. The name is also an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Reilly.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Donna is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

Italy 61%

United States 13%

Argentina 9%

Brazil 11%

France 6%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Donna by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Donna Riley

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Donna Riley:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

6

Personality Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Donna?: The first name Donna originates from Italian. From Italian donna (lady, woman), from Latin domina (mistress). Used as a first name mainly in English-speaking countries from the 1940s.
When was Donna most popular?: The name Donna reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Riley?: The surname Riley originates from Irish. Riley is a surname of English origin, as well as an Anglicized version of an Irish surname. The name has the meaning "rye clearing", or is from one of several placenames, including High Riley in Accrington, Lancashire, and in Devon. In the United Kingdom Census 1881, more than a third of Rileys were in Lancashire; it was most prevalent in the east of the county and over the boundary into the Calder Valley in Yorkshire, and the name could be found in these areas from the 13th century. The name is also an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Reilly.
What are the origins of the name Donna Riley?: The name Donna Riley combines two different traditions: the first name Donna has Italian roots, while the surname Riley originates from Irish.