Donata
Feminine form of the name Donato, meaning "given" or "gifted" in Italian.
Name Census estimates that about 318 living Americans carry the first name Donata. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Donata today is around 58 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Donata births was 1956 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Donata. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
318
~ 1 in 1,077,844 Americans
Peak year
1956
19 babies that year
Average age
58
years old
2004 SSA rank
#11,922
Tracked since 1908
Popularity
Donata: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Donata from the 1900s through to the 2000s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 111 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Donata by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Donata during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Donatas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Donata
The name Donata originates from the Latin language and has its roots in the word "donatus", which means "given" or "gifted". This name gained popularity in ancient Rome and the surrounding regions during the early centuries of the Christian era.
Donata was a common name among early Christian communities, often given to girls as a reminder of the gift of life and faith. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in early Christian texts and inscriptions from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Donata was Saint Donata, a 4th-century martyr from the town of Nantes in Gaul (modern-day France). According to historical records, she was persecuted and executed for her Christian faith during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian around 304 AD.
Another prominent figure named Donata was Donata the Younger, a 5th-century nun and religious leader who founded several monasteries in Naples, Italy. She is celebrated as a saint in the Catholic Church and is known for her piety and devotion to charitable works.
In the 6th century, a woman named Donata lived in the city of Aventicum (modern-day Avenches, Switzerland). She is remembered for her acts of charity and her efforts in helping the poor and needy during a time of famine and hardship.
During the Renaissance period, Donata Massimo (1445-1511) was an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts who commissioned numerous works from renowned artists such as Raphael and Michelangelo. Her patronage played a significant role in the flourishing of the arts in Renaissance Italy.
In the realm of literature, Donata degli Albizzi (1486-1547) was an Italian poet and writer who gained recognition for her contributions to the literary circles of Florence during the 16th century. Her works reflected her deep religious devotion and her admiration for the works of Dante Alighieri.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Donata throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and time periods.
People
Donata + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Donata as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Donata: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Donata?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 318 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Donata going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,077,844 US residents.
Is Donata a common name?
We classify Donata as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 551 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Donata most popular?
The single biggest year for Donata was 1956, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Donata is about 58 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Donata a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Donata in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.