Yona

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Yona

Pronounced YOH-nah /ˈjoʊ.nɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Hebrew yonah, 'a dove' (the feminine sense of the name Jonah); also a Korean and Native American name; used for both sexes; here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A dove: Yona is Hebrew 'a dove'. Lyrical, gentle, and warm. Used for both sexes (here for girls; said 'YOH-nah').

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Origin LowHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew yonah, 'a dove' (the feminine sense of the name Jonah); also a Korean and Native American name; used for both sexes; here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#7212 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 323

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Yona comes from Hebrew yonah, 'a dove' — also a Korean name and a Cherokee word ('a bear'; routes layered, which we note). A lyrical, gentle name, used for both sexes, here for girls (slug distinguished; said 'YOH-nah').

In the U.S. it appears in Jewish and Korean families. Rare, a-dove at the root, and gentle.

Did you know? Yonah means 'a dove' in Hebrew (the root of Jonah) — Yona is a lyrical, gentle name, also a Korean and Native American name, used for both sexes (here for girls; the routes are layered, which we note; said 'YOH-nah').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Yona — unisex; routes layered

Variations

YonahJonaYonna

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Yona…

Yonah— a fellow spelling

Jona— a kin J- spelling

Noa— a sound-neighbor modern Hebrew girls' name

Tova— a fellow Hebrew girls' name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yona mean?

Yona is Hebrew for 'a dove'; it is also a Korean and Native American name, so the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Yona?

It's said YOH-nah /ˈjoʊ.nɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Yona a boy or girl name?

Yona is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Yona?

Yona is a rare name in the U.S.