Given name & surname
Donatella
“ruler of the world”
Donatella connects to the Donald name family through Donna. One Scottish interpretation is “ruler of the world.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Donatella connects to the Donald name family through Donna. One Scottish interpretation is “ruler of the world.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Italian use, Donatella is a diminutive of Donato. An origin associated with Donato is Late Latin. Donatella is a variant of Donna. An origin associated with Donna is Italian.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Italian use, Donatella is used as a feminine counterpart of Donato.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1967. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Donatella through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 372
- 0 boys · 372 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #6,914 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,914 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 501 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Donatella’s family of names
Donatella is a diminutive of Donato. Donatella has a related form in Donna.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Donatella
- Donatella VersaceItalian fashion designerborn 1955
- Donatella Di PietrantonioItalian writerborn 1962
- Donatella FinocchiaroItalian actressborn 1970
- Donatella Di CesareItalian philosopher (born 1956)
- Donatella RettoreItalian singer-songwriter and actressborn 1953
- Donatella DamianiItalian actressborn 1955
- Donatella MaiorcaItalian film director and television directorborn 1957
- Donatella AgostinelliItalian politicianborn 1974
- Donatella TeseiItalian politicianborn 1958
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Donatella, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.