Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Una
GirlIrish, Latin· “lamb (Irish) or one (Latin)”
- Meaning
- lamb (Irish) or one (Latin)
- Origin
- Irish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- OO-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,245
- US babies 2025
- 49
- Best rank
- #331 (1890)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Una
Una is an Irish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “lamb (Irish) or one (Latin)”.
Una has two separate sources. In Irish it is an anglicized form of Úna, an old name whose meaning is uncertain; it is often linked to uan, lamb, but that is a guess rather than an established etymology. In Latin, una means one. Edmund Spenser used Una for the heroine of The Faerie Queene, where she represents truth and is accompanied by a lion. It is said OO-nuh. Oona is a closely related spelling of the Irish name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Oona.
Popularity over time
Una has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 62 different years. Its best national rank was #331 in 1890, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 217 were named Una. In 2025, 49 babies were named Una, and it ranked #3,245 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #501 in 1920, #1,408 in 1950, #5,532 in 1980, #4,520 in 2000, #5,402 in 2010, and #3,245 in 2025. Of the 8,108 US girls named Una since records began, 20% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 1,385 babies. Since 2010, 766 more have been named Una.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Oleta, Myrtis, Elvera, Margret, and Syble.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Una ranked highest in New York, California, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #1821 | 7 |
| California | #3494 | 5 |
| Texas | #3754 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Una is usually pronounced OO-nuh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with U and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Oona.
Middle names for Una
A few middle names that flow with Una: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Una
Similar names
Raina Girl
RAY-nuh
“possibly queen” · Slavic
#916
Ina Girl
EE-nuh
“short form of names ending in -ina” · Latin
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Ena Girl
EE-nuh
“variant of Ina or Enya” · Irish
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Nora Girl
NOR-uh
“honor; short form of Eleanor or Honora” · Irish
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Breanna Girl
bree-AN-uh
“feminine form of Brian” · Irish
#2,548
Tatiana Girl
tah-tee-AH-nuh
“uncertain; from the Roman name Tatius” · Latin
#1,106
Brenna Girl
BREH-nuh
Irish
#1,846
Christiana Girl
krihs-tee-A-nuh
“follower of Christ” · Latin
#2,907
Tina Girl
TEE-nuh
“short form of names ending in -tina” · English
#2,815
Mona Girl
MOH-nuh
“uncertain; several possible sources” · Irish
#2,806
Senna Girl
SEN-uh
“possibly the senna plant, or Arabic brilliance” · Arabic
#1,757
Luna Girl
LOO-nuh
“moon” · Latin
#27
Lists that include Una
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Una mean?
Una is an Irish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “lamb (Irish) or one (Latin)”.
What is the origin of the name Una?
Una has Irish and Latin roots. Una has two separate sources.
Is Una a popular name?
Not especially. Una ranked #3,245 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Una a boy or girl name?
Una is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Una?
Una is usually pronounced OO-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings