Entry № 3224 · Latin origin

Leona Leona — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ lee-OH-nah /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Latin

Meaning

"Lioness"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 487

First recorded

Medieval (Latin)

The meaning

A name that means "lioness".

Leona is the feminine of Leon and Leo — from the Latin leo, meaning "lion." Leona means literally "lioness."

Leona was popular in the early 20th century, peaked at #189 in 1925, and faded. It has been returning in the 2010s. The British singer Leona Lewis (born 1985) and the New York hotelier Leona Helmsley (1920-2007) are notable bearers. Today Leona sits in the U.S. top 500.

Lioness. The Latin word, used directly.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Leona

Transliteration: Leona
Pronunciation: / liˈoʊ.nə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Leona stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 487 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 189 in 1925

Babies named Leona · last year

612 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

1880

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Leonas before her.

Real people

Leona Lewis

British singer.

born 1985

Leona Helmsley

American hotelier.

1920 – 2007

In fiction

Leona

Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Leona.

Numerology

The number behind Leona.

The Nurturer

Leona reduces to six — the number of fierce maternal love.

Parents on Leona

Why families chose this name.

"Lioness. The Latin word said it directly. We needed no more."

Lucia · Mother of one · Naples