Ornella is an Italian feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, probably derived from , " flowering ash tree" (''Fraxinus ornus''). It was coined by Gabriele D'Annunzio in his 1904 play '' The Daughter of Iorio'' and popularized by the fame of singer

Ornella Vanoni Ornella Vanoni (; born 22 September 1934) is an Italian singer. She is one of the longest-standing Italian artists, having started performing in 1956. She has released about 112 works between LP, EPs and greatest hits albums, and is considered ...

and, later, of actress Ornella Muti. It is most widespread in central and

northern Italy Northern Italy (, , ) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. The Italian National Institute of Statistics defines the region as encompassing the four Northwest Italy, northwestern Regions of Italy, regions of Piedmo ...

, as well as in

Abruzzo Abruzzo (, ; ; , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; ), historically also known as Abruzzi, is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy with an area of 10,763 square km (4,156 sq mi) and a population of 1.3 million. It is divided into four ...

, while it is rarer in the South of the country. Closely related but very rare names include Ornelia, and the masculine versions Ornello and Ornelio.

People

* Ornella Bankole (born 1997), French basketball player *

Ornella Barra Ornella Barra (born 20 December 1953) is an Italian-born Monegasque businesswoman. A qualified pharmacist, she is chief operating officer, international of Walgreens Boots Alliance. She is married to the Italian billionaire Stefano Pessina. Biog ...

(born 1953), Italian-born Monegasque businesswoman * Ornella Bertorotta (born 1967), Italian politician * Ornella Domini (born 1988), Swiss boxer * Ornella Ferrara (born 1968), Italian long-distance runner * Ornella Ferrari (1909–1983), Italian song lyricist * Ornella Havyarimana (born 1994), Burundian boxer * Ornella Livingston (born 1991), Jamaican sprinter * Ornella Micheli, Italian film editor * Ornella Muti (born 1955 as Francesca Romana Rivelli), Italian actress * Ornella Oettl Reyes (born 1991), Peruvian-German Alpine skier * Ornella Ongaro (born 1990), French motorcycle racer * Ornella Palla (born 1990), Uruguayan handball player * Ornella Santana (born 1990), Argentine basketball player * Ornella Sathoud (born 1987), Ghanaian boxer *

(born 1934), Italian pop singer * Ornella Volta (1927–2020), Italian-born French musicologist and translator * Ornella Wahner (born 1993), German boxer ;Last name * Elena Ornella Paciotti (born 1941), Italian politician and magistrate * José Ornella Ferreira, Venezuelan military officer

References

{{given name, cat1=Italian feminine given names, cat2=Feminine given names, cat3=Given names derived from plants or flowers