Jayonna
A feminine name of obscure origin suggesting nobility or prominence.
Name Census estimates that about 1,012 living Americans carry the first name Jayonna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jayonna today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jayonna births was 2009 (73 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jayonna. 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.
Key insights
- • Jayonna is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.0K
~ 1 in 338,690 Americans
Peak year
2009
73 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,675
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Jayonna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jayonna 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 462 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
Jayonna 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 Jayonna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jayonnas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York recorded the most babies named Jayonna, while Missouri, Michigan, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 28 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jayonna
The name Jayonna is a relatively modern invention, originating in the late 20th century. Its roots can be traced back to the English name Jaye, a unisex name derived from the Middle English word "jay," meaning a bird of the crow family. The "onna" suffix is likely a feminized version of the name, adding a distinctly feminine touch to the originally gender-neutral moniker.
While the name Jayonna itself does not have a long historical lineage, its components have been present in various forms throughout the centuries. The name Jaye has been documented as early as the 16th century, appearing in records from England and Scotland. It is believed to have been initially used as a nickname or diminutive form of more traditional names like Jane or Jayne.
As for historical references, the name Jayonna does not appear to be directly mentioned in any ancient texts, religious scriptures, or notable historical records. However, its roots in the natural world, specifically the jay bird, can be traced back to various cultural and literary works that celebrate the beauty and symbolism of this avian creature.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Jayonna are relatively recent, with the first known instances appearing in the latter half of the 20th century. One of the earliest notable individuals to bear this name was Jayonna Joann Berry, an American singer and songwriter born in 1986. While not a household name, her work in the R&B and soul genres has garnered a dedicated following.
Another individual of note with the name Jayonna is Jayonna Munoz, an American actress known for her roles in television series such as "Shameless" and "The Fosters." Born in 2001, she has already amassed an impressive acting resume at a young age.
In the field of sports, Jayonna Sheppherd, an American basketball player born in 1996, has made a name for herself as a talented guard. She played collegiately for the University of California, Berkeley, and has since pursued a professional career both domestically and internationally.
Moving across the globe, Jayonna Camisha is a South African model and beauty pageant titleholder, having won the Miss Soweto title in 2016. Her success in the pageant world has brought her significant recognition within the South African entertainment industry.
Lastly, Jayonna Dasha is a contemporary artist from New Zealand, known for her vibrant paintings and mixed media works that often explore themes of identity and cultural heritage. Her unique style has garnered critical acclaim, and her pieces have been featured in various exhibitions and galleries throughout the country.
While the name Jayonna may be relatively new in the grand scheme of history, it has already been embraced by a diverse range of individuals, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Jayonna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jayonna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jayonna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jayonna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,012 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jayonna 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 338,690 US residents.
Is Jayonna a common name?
We classify Jayonna as "Rare". It ranks above 90.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,024 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jayonna most popular?
The single biggest year for Jayonna was 2009, when 73 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jayonna is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jayonna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jayonna 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.