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Oona

♀ Girl

Pronounced OO-nuh /ˈuː.nə/Medium

Meaning: lambMedium

In 30 seconds: Oona is an Irish girl's name meaning 'lamb', soft and gentle in both sound and sense.
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Origin MediumIrish
Meaninglamb
U.S. rank (2024)#2474 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births73 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,712

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519422024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Oona is an Irish name meaning 'lamb', an image of softness and innocence. It is an anglicized spelling of the Irish Úna, and appears in related forms such as Oonagh and the plain Una. The double-o gives the name its rounded, open sound.

The name carries a Hollywood thread: Oona O'Neill, daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill and wife of Charlie Chaplin, and her granddaughter, actress Oona Chaplin of Game of Thrones.

Did you know? Oona is an Anglicized form of Irish Úna, most often traced to a word for 'lamb', and that gentle imagery is part of its lasting appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Oona — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Oona — meaning/etymology

Variations

OonaghÚnaUnaÙna

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Oona O'Neill (1925–1991)
    Daughter of Eugene O'Neill; wife of Charlie Chaplin.
  • ★Oona Chaplin (1986–present)
    Spanish-British actress, played Talisa in Game of Thrones.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Oona mean?

Oona is usually explained as meaning 'lamb' and is most often linked with Irish tradition, as an Anglicized form of Úna.

How do you pronounce Oona?

It's commonly said OO-nuh /ˈuː.nə/.

Is Oona a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Oona is used as a girl name.

How popular is Oona?

In 2024, Oona ranked #2474 in the U.S. for girls, with 73 births recorded.