Donya

Donya is a feminine given name used across several cultures, especially among Persian-, Arabic-, Turkish-, and Urdu-speaking communities. It is often considered a variant of Dunia (also spelled Dunia, Dunya, Donya, or Doniya), which in Arabic and Persian means "world" or "the worldly life." In Islamic thought, dunya denotes the temporal world in contrast with the eternal afterlife, a nuance sometimes echoed in the choice of the name.

As a first name, Donya is popular in Iran and Afghanistan and is also found among Turkish and South Asian populations, including in diaspora communities. The spelling of the name reflects transliteration from multiple scripts (Arabic, Persian, or Turkish Latinization) and varies by language, with Dunia, Dunya, and Doniya as close variants. Pronunciation typically places emphasis on the first syllable, though exact vowels may differ by language.

The meaning and associations of Donya may range from a worldly reference to a culturally rooted connection to family heritage. In some contexts, the name may be chosen for its phonetic appeal as well as its semantic resonance with concepts of life and worldliness.

See also Dunia, Dunya, and related names.