Yona
Gender-neutral name · Native American
Meaningbear · Cherokee
Yona is a Native American gender-neutral name meaning “bear”, with Cherokee roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. It suits a boy or a girl equally well.
Did you know?
- GenerationYona peaked in 1924, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Yonas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Yona would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 89,286 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryYona first shows up in US birth records in 1924, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 101 years since.
- Boy or girlYona truly works for either: 55% of the 33 babies named Yona in 2025 were girls, the rest boys.
US births per million girls, 1924–2025
US births per million boys, 1982–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yona
Yona is a gender-neutral name of Native American origin meaning “bear”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name. It works for a boy or a girl, which suits parents who'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
Origin:Native American names
Other spellings of Yona
More Native American names
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Girl name: Savannah · treeless plain
- Unisex name: Dakota · friend, ally
- Girl name: Winona · firstborn daughter
- Girl name: Nayla · achiever, winner
- Girl name: Savanna · treeless grassland
- Girl name: Kaydence · rhythm
- Boy name: Mikah · who is like God
Questions about the name Yona
What does the name Yona mean?
Yona means “bear” and comes from Cherokee. Other gender-neutral names with a similar meaning include Arthur (“possibly bear”), Arturo (“possibly bear”), Bjorn (“bear”) and Bear (“bear”).
What is the origin of the name Yona?
Yona is Native American in origin, and its meaning traces back to Cherokee. Other Native American names to consider are Kai (“sea”), Savannah (“treeless plain”), Dakota (“friend, ally”) and Winona (“firstborn daughter”).
Is Yona a boy or girl name?
Both. Yona is a true gender-neutral name used for boys and girls: in 2025, 55% of US babies named Yona were girls and 45% were boys. That balance makes it a good pick if you'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
How popular is the name Yona?
Yona ranked #6,325 for US girls in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1924, when it reached #4,002. Over the last five years it has climbed 304 places.
What names are similar to Yona?
If you like Yona, you might also like Iona, Yonah, Yoona, Arthur and Arturo. Iona is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Yona?
Yona is a Native American gender-neutral name meaning “bear”, with Cherokee roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. It suits a boy or a girl equally well. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.