Cionna
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly an Anglicized spelling of Sionna.
Name Census estimates that about 154 living Americans carry the first name Cionna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cionna today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cionna births was 2007 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cionna. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
154
~ 1 in 2,225,678 Americans
Peak year
2007
15 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,732
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Cionna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cionna from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 79 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cionna by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cionna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cionna
The name Cionna has its roots in the Gaelic language, originating from the ancient Celtic cultures that inhabited parts of what is now Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "cionn," which means "head" or "chief." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with leadership or authority within these early Celtic societies.
During the medieval period, the name Cionna appeared in various Irish and Scottish historical records, often referring to prominent individuals or clan leaders. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where a woman named Cionna Ní Chonchobair is mentioned as the wife of a local chieftain in the 12th century.
In the 14th century, a Scottish noblewoman named Cionna MacDonald was known for her involvement in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English. She played a crucial role in supporting the cause of Robert the Bruce and is said to have provided shelter and aid to his forces during their struggles.
Another notable figure bearing the name Cionna was an Irish poet and bard who lived in the 16th century. Cionna Ó Dálaigh was renowned for her powerful and evocative verse, which often celebrated the exploits of Irish chieftains and criticized the English occupation of Ireland.
In the 17th century, Cionna O'Brien was a prominent figure in the Irish Confederate Wars against the English Parliament. She was a staunch supporter of the Catholic cause and is said to have rallied troops and inspired them with her fervent speeches.
Moving into the 18th century, Cionna MacGregor was a Scottish Jacobite who fought alongside the forces of Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, in their attempts to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British throne. She was commended for her bravery and loyalty during the Jacobite uprisings.
These historical examples demonstrate the enduring significance of the name Cionna, particularly within the Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland. While the name may not be as prevalent today, it carries a rich legacy of strength, leadership, and cultural pride rooted in the ancient traditions of these regions.
People
Cionna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cionna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cionna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cionna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 154 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cionna going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,225,678 US residents.
Is Cionna a common name?
We classify Cionna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 156 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cionna most popular?
The single biggest year for Cionna was 2007, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cionna is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cionna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cionna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cionna in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cionna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cionna in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cionna can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Cionna?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.