How to say it
le · O · na
/liˈoʊ.nə/
Feminine
Leona
Lioness
What it means
Latin, the feminine of Leo, 'lioness.'
Leona is the feminine of Leo, straightforwardly 'lioness,' from the Latin leo. It has a vintage warmth and a quiet ferocity, sharing the lion root with Leo, Leon, and Leonora. Singer Leona Lewis is a prominent modern bearer. It is riding the early-1900s revival back into use. Leo, Lee, and Nona are the shorts.
Popularity over time
peaked at #69 in 1904, currently #429 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Leo, Lee, and Nona all work as shorts.
- Spelling
The feminine of Leo; same lion root as Leon and Leonora.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Leona Lewis British singer
Spelling variants
- Leonie
- Leonna
- Liona
Names with the same feeling
See Leona from another angle
By meaning
By style