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Help[Opinions] Donna
For a long time I associated Donna with two people:
1. One of my stepmom's best friends, since the late 70s
2. Donna Pinciotti from "That 70s Show"
So for me it has long been a name belonging to women who were teenagers in the late-70s / early-80s, and thus a very dated name. However, I started watching "Twin Peaks" recently, and one of the main characters is Donna Hayward (played by Lara Flynn Boyle, who I didn't even recognize in the pilot episode). After hearing the name so much in a context outside of a 70s high school (though still often in a high school), my ears have gotten used to hearing it. Donna sounds... young and lively, now!
What do you think of the name Donna? How do you think a young Donna would fare today? What middle names would you pair with it (I'm open to suggestions)?
Please rate my personal short name lists (the latter includes combos):
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835 (updated)
http://greens-end.myminicity.com/env
1. One of my stepmom's best friends, since the late 70s
2. Donna Pinciotti from "That 70s Show"
So for me it has long been a name belonging to women who were teenagers in the late-70s / early-80s, and thus a very dated name. However, I started watching "Twin Peaks" recently, and one of the main characters is Donna Hayward (played by Lara Flynn Boyle, who I didn't even recognize in the pilot episode). After hearing the name so much in a context outside of a 70s high school (though still often in a high school), my ears have gotten used to hearing it. Donna sounds... young and lively, now!
What do you think of the name Donna? How do you think a young Donna would fare today? What middle names would you pair with it (I'm open to suggestions)?
Please rate my personal short name lists (the latter includes combos):
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835 (updated)
http://greens-end.myminicity.com/env
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I have trouble picturing it on a woman under 40. Definitely middle-aged.
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It is perfectly fine to use this name.
Donna Elvira
&
Donna Anna
Donna in each case is used as a precursory title of gentry for "Lady" - as Princess Diana bore the title "Lady Diana" prior to obtaining her royal title. I learned these Characters from Mozart's Don Giovanni. "Don" is also the title of gentry for men.
Donna Elvira
&
Donna Anna
Donna in each case is used as a precursory title of gentry for "Lady" - as Princess Diana bore the title "Lady Diana" prior to obtaining her royal title. I learned these Characters from Mozart's Don Giovanni. "Don" is also the title of gentry for men.
This message was edited 8/26/2015, 2:45 AM
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In the case of title, Donna and Don are pronounced a bit differently than the English names Donna and Don (from Donald).
Donna, as a romantic title, is pronounced do-nah instead of da-nah. Quite similar to the names Donato or Donatella.
The use of the title is outdated right now, unless you just mean a woman (Italian), but a valid connection.
Donna, as a romantic title, is pronounced do-nah instead of da-nah. Quite similar to the names Donato or Donatella.
The use of the title is outdated right now, unless you just mean a woman (Italian), but a valid connection.
This message was edited 8/26/2015, 7:23 AM
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Still sounds like a middle aged woman to me; probably because I know a lot of middle aged women named Donna.
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My first thought was That 70s Show.
Donna doesn't sound like a little girl at all to me.
It's very serious, maybe it's that O sound, not sure.
I also associate it with the italian word donna, which means woman. That also makes it sound mature.
MN suggestions:
Donna Louisa
Donna Juliette
Donna Celeste
Donna Beatrix
Donna doesn't sound like a little girl at all to me.
It's very serious, maybe it's that O sound, not sure.
I also associate it with the italian word donna, which means woman. That also makes it sound mature.
MN suggestions:
Donna Louisa
Donna Juliette
Donna Celeste
Donna Beatrix
This message was edited 8/25/2015, 5:56 PM
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Donna Louisa sounds almost regal. It's similar to the current combo I have: Donna Eloise.
I also really like Donna Celeste and Donna Beatrix.
I also really like Donna Celeste and Donna Beatrix.
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It makes me think of the song from "Hair", about a "sixteen-year-old virgin." So that's youthful imagery, I guess.
Also the Ritchie Valens song which is also youthful imagery.
Although the two women named Donna that I have known are in their late fifties now -- or one would be if she hadn't been killed in a plane crash in 2009.
Still, Donna, though dated, still has some spunk and verve, I think. I think a young Donna would fare fine -- it's not like anyone would laugh at her name.
Also the Ritchie Valens song which is also youthful imagery.
Although the two women named Donna that I have known are in their late fifties now -- or one would be if she hadn't been killed in a plane crash in 2009.
Still, Donna, though dated, still has some spunk and verve, I think. I think a young Donna would fare fine -- it's not like anyone would laugh at her name.
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The song!
Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about the song! That could go from complimentary to annoying really quick (kind of like how anyone named Eileen or Jenny must've felt in the 80s).
Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about the song! That could go from complimentary to annoying really quick (kind of like how anyone named Eileen or Jenny must've felt in the 80s).
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Josephine is one of my favorite names, and has been since I was a little kid (awesome pre-school teacher was named Josephine, as well as the very patient woman who gave me my first haircut - lots of sentiment involved). And I love the look and flow of Donna Josephine. However, if I actually used that for a daughter... someone's going to call her Donna Jo. I know it. Same thing happens with a "Mary Josephine": Mary Jo. That's the danger of having Josephine for a middle name.
Also, looking back at "Full House," I'm pretty sure D.J. Tanner's real name was Donna Josephine.
Also, looking back at "Full House," I'm pretty sure D.J. Tanner's real name was Donna Josephine.
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I still think Donna sounds dated. The only Donna I know turned 40 this year and I can't imagine it on anyone younger. Plus, that Donna is a teacher and quite a scary one so I don't consider the name particularly nice!
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I don't like Donna.
I just have a chain-smoking, bleached hair vibe from it that makes me feel qll sorts of guilty for stereotyping.
I am not really fond of the sound either.
It seems to me like someone passed up a perfect opportunity to use the imagery-filled and lovely Dawn, and cheapened it to Donna. I would even support Dawna over Donna tbh.
Sorry!
A girl named Donna would probably be fine today, but I doubt people would be gushing over the name. They might though, considering that it is an unexpected choice.
I would pair it with something like:
Donna Ilene
Donna Wren
Donna Evangeline
Donna Pauline
Donna Vale
Donna Elmira
Donna Marguerite
I just have a chain-smoking, bleached hair vibe from it that makes me feel qll sorts of guilty for stereotyping.
I am not really fond of the sound either.
It seems to me like someone passed up a perfect opportunity to use the imagery-filled and lovely Dawn, and cheapened it to Donna. I would even support Dawna over Donna tbh.
Sorry!
A girl named Donna would probably be fine today, but I doubt people would be gushing over the name. They might though, considering that it is an unexpected choice.
I would pair it with something like:
Donna Ilene
Donna Wren
Donna Evangeline
Donna Pauline
Donna Vale
Donna Elmira
Donna Marguerite
This message was edited 8/25/2015, 12:53 PM
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Dawn is a nice name, but I tend to stay away from "word names" unless they're flowers (or trees, like Willow).
From the combos you posted, I like Donna Evangeline and Donna Marguerite most.
From the combos you posted, I like Donna Evangeline and Donna Marguerite most.
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I think I like more "dated" names than most here do, so this is no surprise but I really like Donna. I put it on my faves a while ago. I think it seems modestly elegant, and ambiguously chilly/warm - Ava, Bella, or Nora today give me a similar impression except Donna seems, I dunno, massier. I went to school with a girl named Donna and she made a positive impression that hasn't faded. I don't even think it sounds dated in a bad way, despite having been a much bigger fad than Denise. I knew a lot more Denises, so that name seems more dated/middle aged to me.
I think it'd be a fine name for a girl still, for folks who don't mind going a little retro or against the grain. D names in general are kind of out of style - it's like they're too earthy and solid for the current fashion for airy and elevated sounds like Ariana and Lily and Sofia, or crisp and dynamic sounds like Chloe and Avery and Abigail. Even Dana seems more current than Donna.
Donna Madeline (wow. This popped into my head, and then I went to look at your PNL for ideas of what names you like, and there's your combo Donna Madeleine)
It's hard to make combos with because it just does not combine with -a names well, nor with many short names that make it sound "too" retro.
Donna Marjorie
Donna Valerie
Donna Fern
I think it'd be a fine name for a girl still, for folks who don't mind going a little retro or against the grain. D names in general are kind of out of style - it's like they're too earthy and solid for the current fashion for airy and elevated sounds like Ariana and Lily and Sofia, or crisp and dynamic sounds like Chloe and Avery and Abigail. Even Dana seems more current than Donna.
Donna Madeline (wow. This popped into my head, and then I went to look at your PNL for ideas of what names you like, and there's your combo Donna Madeleine)
It's hard to make combos with because it just does not combine with -a names well, nor with many short names that make it sound "too" retro.
Donna Marjorie
Donna Valerie
Donna Fern
This message was edited 8/25/2015, 12:32 PM
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Ooooh, I like Donna Marjorie!
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