Given name & surname
Leona
“having the strength of a lion”·“resembling a lion”
In English and German use, Leona is a feminine form of Leon. In Greek use, Leon carries the interpretation “resembling a lion.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Latin use, Leona carries the interpretation “having the strength of a lion.” In English and German use, Leona is a feminine form of Leon. In Greek use, Leon carries the interpretation “resembling a lion.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
Leona is used as a feminine counterpart of Leon.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Leona through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 113,624
- 294 boys · 113,330 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 3,346 babies
- 2025
- 723
- #429 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +6%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 723 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 429 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,335 in 1918. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (76). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 30,291 as a first name in 2020; 152 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Leona’s family of names
In Czech usage, Leona has a diminutive in LEONKA. Leona is a feminine form of Leon. Leona has a related form in Leola.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Leona has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
6 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 35
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Leonievariant
- Leonevariant
- Leonnalikely variant
- Leolavariant
- Lionavariant
- Leonivariant
- Leonelavariant
- Leeonavariant
Show 27 moreShow fewer
- Leondravariant
- Leondavariant
- Leomavariant
- Leontynevariant
- Leontinavariant
- Leontinevariant
- Leoniavariant · Polish
- Leonitavariant
- Leonkadiminutive · Czech
- Leonlinevariant
- Leondreavariant
- Leownavariant
- Leontynavariant
- Leonellevariant
- Leoinevariant
- Leeownavariant
- Leoneavariant
- Leoneevariant
- Lyonettavariant
- Lyonetavariant
- Lyonettevariant
- Lyonetvariant
- Lyonenevariant
- Lionevariant
- Leontinvariant
- Leonlinavariant
- Leoninevariant
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Leona
- Leona LewisBritish singer (born 1985)
- Leona WoodsAmerican nuclear physicist (1919–1986)
- Leona ParaminskiCroatian actressborn 1979
- Leona HelmsleyAmerican hotel owner (1920–2007)1919–2007
- Leona PopovićCroatian alpine skierborn 1997
- Leona Marlin-RomeoDutch politicianborn 1973
- Leona FlorentinoFilipino writer (1849-1884)
- Leona Cavalliactressborn 1969
- Leona RobertsAmerican actress (1879–1954)
Characters named Leona: Leona Heidern (The King of Fighters).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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