Girl's name

Úna

“OO-na”

IPA: /ˈuːnˠə/

possibly from uan, 'lamb', or úan, 'hunger'; disputed

OonaOonaghUnaWinifred

The story behind the name

A favourite of the Gaelic aristocracy, several Únas appear among the O'Briens and O'Neills, and, in folklore, the name of the queen of the fairies alongside Finvarra. Sometimes anglicised, for no good reason, as Winifred or Agnes.

Quick answers

How do you pronounce Úna?

Úna is pronounced “OO-na” (IPA: ˈuːnˠə). Irish has three main dialect groups (Ulster, Connacht and Munster) and many names are said differently in each. The respellings here give the pronunciation most commonly heard in Irish English; where a well-known variant exists, both are shown.

What does the name Úna mean?

Úna means possibly from uan, 'lamb', or úan, 'hunger'; disputed.

Is Úna a boy's or a girl's name?

Úna is traditionally a girl's name in Ireland.

How popular is the name Úna in Ireland?

Úna was the number 239 girls' name in the Republic of Ireland in 2025, from number 215 ten years earlier. Its best year was 1966, at number 74. Source: the CSO's register of names given three or more times.

How else is Úna spelled?

Other spellings and equivalents include Oona, Oonagh, Una, Winifred. Irish names were written down by English-speaking clerks for centuries, which is why so many spellings survive for one name.

In the register

#239 for girls in 2025 (#215 in 2015) · best: #74 in 1966

The full register → CSO, Republic of Ireland, names given three or more times.

Meanings follow Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names and Woulfe; pronunciations give the commonest Irish-English form. Know this name better — a dialect pronunciation, a family tradition? Tell us. · All Irish names A–Z