Declining since 2016, #2,751 for girls today.
Popularity of Oona since 1942
Babies named Oona per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 51 |
| 1970s | 114 |
| 1980s | 40 |
| 1990s | 94 |
| 2000s | 275 |
| 2010s | 718 |
| 2020s | 462 |
Meaning & origin
Oona is a distinctive Irish name that has maintained a quiet presence in the United States since it was first recorded in 1942. Its rarity is underscored by a 2025 ranking of 2751, with only about 1 in 25924 newborns receiving the name. The name reached its peak popularity in 2015, but since 2016 it has been on a declining trajectory. Oona is most frequently found in New York and California, states with notable Irish American populations. Its simple, vowel-rich sound gives it a gentle charm that appeals to parents seeking an uncommon name with Celtic roots.
Oona is an anglicized form of the Irish name Úna, which may mean 'lamb' in Gaelic. It has been used in Ireland for centuries and gained wider recognition in the 20th century, partly through literary figures like James Joyce's daughter Lucia's friend Oona. The name also appears in Finnish as a variant of Auna.
Where Oona is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Oona” around the world
Where Oona lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Oonie
Sibling names for Oona
Names that share Oona's style, for a brother or sister.
