Donya (name)

Donya is a feminine given name, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. In Persian "Donya" (دنیا) means "world" or "earth." It's derived from the Arabic word "dunyā," which refers to the temporal world or earthly life. In Persian literature, Donya is mentioned in the works of famous poets like Rumi and Hafez. In some Slavic countries, such as Russia and Bulgaria, "Donya" (Доня) is a diminutive form of names like "Donata" or "Donka," meaning "gift" or "generous."

In Hebrew, the name Donya (דוניה) is derived from the name Adonia (אדוניה), meaning "my Lord" or "God is my Lord". Adonia is composed of two Hebrew words: "Adon," meaning "Lord" or "Master," and the suffix "-ia," indicating possession or relationship.

The name Donya in Italy is derived from the Italian word "donna," meaning "lady" or "woman." This term is derived from the Latin word "domina," signifying a woman of high social status or a lady of the house. The name gained popularity during the Renaissance period, particularly in the southern region of Sicily.

The name Donya also dates back to the Russian name Avdotya, a version of the Greek Eudokia. Eudokia comes from the word “eudokeo,” which translates to “well-pleased” or “satisfied.” It comes from the terms “eu” and “dokeo.” “Eu” means “good,” and “dokeo” means “to think,” “to imagine,” or “to suppose.”

Popularity

In the United States, the name Donya experienced its peak popularity in 2002 when it was given to 57 in every million births. However, in 2021, only 19 baby girls were named Donya. It was ranked as the 3755th most popular name in 2000 but dropped significantly to 8143 by 2023.

Given name

• Donya Aziz, Pakistani politician
• Donya Fannizadeh (1967–2016), Iranian puppeteer
• Donya Feuer (1934–2011), American dancer
• Donya Salomon-Ali (born 1993), Canadian-born Haitian footballer
• Donya Tesoro (born 1991), Filipina politician

Fictional characters

• Donya, one of the major characters in the 2017 movie Tehran Taboo