Deona
Of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially derived from the Greek word "deinos" meaning "terrible" or "formidable".
Name Census estimates that about 1,080 living Americans carry the first name Deona. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Deona today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deona births was 1995 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deona. 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
1.1K
~ 1 in 317,365 Americans
Peak year
1995
36 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,840
Tracked since 1946
Popularity
Deona: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deona from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 276 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Deona 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 Deona during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Deonas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Deona, while Texas, Michigan, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Deona
The name Deona is a rare and unique feminine name that has its origins in Greek and Latin languages. It is derived from the Greek word "deo," meaning "to bind" or "to tie," and the Latin word "dona," meaning "gift." This suggests that the name Deona may have been given to a child who was considered a precious gift, bound to their parents or family.
The earliest recorded use of the name Deona dates back to the 5th century CE, when it appeared in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. During this time, the name was primarily used in the regions of ancient Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.
In the 9th century, the name Deona made its way into the religious scriptures of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was occasionally used as a name for nuns or devout Christian women, symbolizing their dedication and commitment to their faith.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Deona. One of the earliest recorded was Deona of Alexandria, a renowned philosopher and scholar who lived in the 3rd century CE. She is known for her contributions to the study of ethics and moral philosophy.
Another significant figure was Deona the Martyr, a Christian saint who lived in the 4th century CE. According to historical accounts, she was persecuted for her faith during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and ultimately martyred for refusing to renounce her beliefs.
In the 12th century, Deona of Aquitaine was a notable noblewoman and patron of the arts. She is recognized for her support of troubadours and her involvement in the cultural and literary circles of the time.
During the Renaissance period, Deona Boccaccio, an Italian poet and writer, gained recognition for her works celebrating love and the beauty of nature. She lived from 1412 to 1472 and was a contemporary of notable figures like Dante Alighieri and Petrarch.
In more recent times, Deona Arbus (1923-1971) was an influential American photographer known for her unconventional and thought-provoking portraiture. Her work often explored themes of marginalization and challenged societal norms.
While the name Deona may be rare, it carries a rich history and cultural significance. Its origins in Greek and Latin languages, as well as its presence in ancient texts and religious scriptures, add depth and meaning to this unique and captivating name.
People
Deona + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deona as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Deona: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deona?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,080 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deona 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 317,365 US residents.
Is Deona a common name?
We classify Deona as "Rare". It ranks above 90.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,166 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deona most popular?
The single biggest year for Deona was 1995, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deona is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deona a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deona 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.
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.