The name Mona is derived from the Arabic word "muna" which means "wish" or "desire". It is believed to have originated in the Middle East and North Africa region during the medieval period.

Mona is a feminine name that has been used across various cultures and religions. In Islamic tradition, it is said that one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad was named Muna or Mona. This association has made the name popular among Muslims around the world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mona can be found in the famous work of Persian literature, the Shahnameh, written by the poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. The name appears in the story of a legendary Iranian princess named Mona.

In European history, the name Mona gained popularity after the Renaissance period. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Mona Lisa, the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic portrait, painted in the early 16th century.

Another notable figure with the name Mona was Mona van Duyn, an American poet and academic who was born in 1921 and passed away in 2004. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1971.

In the world of literature, Mona Caird was a prominent Scottish novelist and essayist born in 1854. She was known for her feminist writings and her advocacy for women's rights.

Mona Inglesby, born in 1918, was a Canadian-born American singer and actress who appeared in several films and TV shows during the 1940s and 1950s.

Mona Bates, born in 1914 and died in 1996, was an American artist known for her abstract expressionist paintings and her association with the New York School of artists.