A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Una since 1880
Babies named Una per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Una's real moment was 1890.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 249 |
| 1890s | 480 |
| 1900s | 562 |
| 1910s | 1,385 |
| 1920s | 1,597 |
| 1930s | 1,059 |
| 1940s | 556 |
| 1950s | 368 |
| 1960s | 356 |
| 1970s | 193 |
| 1980s | 108 |
| 1990s | 129 |
| 2000s | 300 |
| 2010s | 441 |
| 2020s | 325 |
Meaning & origin
Una is a name with ancient Irish roots and a literary pedigree. First recorded in the US in 1880, it reached its peak popularity in 1890, ranking among the top names of that decade. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 1989, reflecting a revival of interest in vintage Irish names. In 2025, it ranked 3211, with about 1 in 32801 newborn girls receiving the name. Una is most common in the states of New York, California, and Texas. Its simplicity and cross-cultural appeal make it a distinctive but accessible choice.
Una is most often derived from the Irish Gaelic name Úna, possibly from 'uan' (lamb). It is also associated with the Latin 'una' (one), popularized by Edmund Spenser's epic poem 'The Faerie Queene' (1590) where Una represents truth and unity. The name has been used in Ireland for centuries and gained broader English-language usage in the 19th century.
Where Una is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Una” around the world
Where Una lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
18
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Oona
Variants: Oona, Úna
Sibling names for Una
Names that share Una's style, for a brother or sister.
