I like both Ladonna and Madonna... Spelled exactly as that! To add some clarity and perspective; to intentionally spell Ladonna as LaDonna or La Donna, would be just as moronic, ridiculous and tasteless as to intentionally spell Madonna as MaDonna or Ma Donna. Let's get a grip, shall we?!
― Anonymous User 5/8/2024
1
LaDonna Brave Bull Allard (1956 – 2021) was a Dakota and Lakota (Native American) historian, genealogist, and a matriarch of the water protector movement. In April 2016, she was one of the founders of the resistance camps of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, aimed at halting the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
LaDonna Harris is a Comanche (Native American) social activist and politician. She is the founder and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity. Harris was a vice presidential candidate for the Citizens Party in the 1980 United States presidential election alongside Barry Commoner. She was the first Native American woman to run for vice president. In 2018, she became one of the inductees in the first induction ceremony held by the National Native American Hall of Fame.
I notice the spelling for this name on this site was previously listed as Ladonna and at some point changed to LaDonna :(, which I think is a shame, as although the distinct 'La' prefix can be found, in the sense in which it's used, it does not comply with any standardised orthography and therefore, regardless of who one is or is known for (army veteran, adoptive grandparent, Black, White, Native, leader of a country), when used, is a form of either ignorance or wilful illiteracy. In all fairness, the comment by "noisynora" in reference to "extra" was placed to its previous listed spelling "Ladonna". For those such as myself, who much value standardised orthography and literacy, in this sense, the extra is actually nice, versus the fact of the extra junk that the distinct prefix gives legitimacy to.
Like other names starting with the prefix La-, LaDonna became very common with African-Americans starting in the 1960s. However, before that point it was just as likely to be a White as a Black name in the United States, and there are a great many examples of White women both in the Southern USA and among the Latter Day Saints in Utah and surrounding states who were named LaDonna in the early 20th century.
Unless a combination of what can be considered two separate names (i.e, LuAnn, Dee Ann), the bestowing of a maternal surname, or a prefix indicating the son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter of, the emphasis of a completely useless, unnecessary prefix/article, such as in LaDonna and La Donna just seems ridiculous and can't be taken with any amount of seriousness, otherwise, Ladonna is a very lovely sounding, presentable name with a feminine flair.
Ladonna Compson is a character from the cartoon Arthur. She was introduced in season 16. She is from Louisiana and her family moves frequently due to her father being in the military.
As an Italian I find this name really weird because "la donna" means "the woman" in Italian language.
― Anonymous User 10/17/2019
1
In Italian, the word 'donna' (lowercase), predominantly means "woman". When preceeded by the feminine article 'la' ("the"), means "the woman". When used as a form of address, followed by a woman's first / last name, or in reference to a notable woman, it means "the lady", while in the game of chess, another reference for the queen. Yet though it happens to contain a prefix that's been adopted by the African-American community, the origin of the name isn't exclusive to it.The person who said she's Italian and finds this name weird because it means "the woman" in Italian isn't familiar with the various origins of onomastics. I'm Italian and find the name very appealing.Many names belonging to various languages are, or have gender-specific meanings / origins. Some are classic that have been around for millenia, presently used in the country / language of origin and/or adopted and used by other countries / languages, while names such as Donna and Ladonna are newer names that have taken and acquired whatever degree of popularity.I've always thought Ladonna is a very beautiful name. I agree that spelled LaDonna or La Donna is tacky, but Ladonna is not of the same category and to be judged by its own merits.Donna and Ladonna may sound odd as a given name in Italy, but a perfectly acceptable and great choice for a little girl / woman of any nationality / descent in other countries, as they would be should either / both, be / become used within Italy, or take on popularity.
It's one of these names that a person would not be taken very seriously with. It sounds tacky, and with Donna, it sounds almost amusing. It's almost like a very poor attempt at being classy and winding up sounding ultra trashy.
This name looks and sounds like the name of a streetwalker with a drug addiction. And it's so ironic that it means "the lady" in Italian, because this poorly-though-out name smacks of a poverty-worn prostitute.