Lona is a name of Slavic origin, specifically from the region now known as Poland and Lithuania. It is derived from the Slavic element "luna," which means "moon." Therefore, Lona can be translated to mean "little moon" or "moonlight."
The name Lona has been used for centuries in Slavic cultures but gained popularity outside of Eastern Europe during the 20th century. It is often associated with the Polish and Lithuanian traditions but has since become more widely recognized as a global name.
One notable figure associated with the name Lona is the French actress Lona Anderson, born Marie-Louise Neymar in 1897. Despite her non-Slavic background, she adopted the stage name Lona Anderson and became famous for her roles in silent films during the 1920s.
In literature, the name Lona appears in several works, such as the novel "Lona" by Polish writer Maria Dabrowska, published in 1934. The protagonist of this story is a young woman named Lona who struggles with her identity and place in society during the early 20th century.
Overall, while Lona may not be as well-known as some other names, it has a rich history and meaningful origin that sets it apart. Its association with the moon adds an intriguing and poetic element to this name.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Lona in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can observe several trends and patterns over time.
From 1880 to around 1950, the number of births with the name Lona fluctuated but generally showed an increasing trend. The highest points during this period were in 1916 with 173 births and in 1947 with 148 births. However, after reaching a peak in 1947, the popularity of the name Lona began to decline.
The turning point occurred around the mid-1950s, as the number of annual births with the name Lona started to decrease significantly. This trend continued throughout the following decades, with the lowest points occurring in the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as in 1990 with only 10 births and in 1992 with also just 10 births.
Since the late 1990s, the popularity of the name Lona has remained relatively stable but at a low level. The number of annual births with this name has hovered around an average of 15 to 20 births per year, with slight fluctuations from year to year. For instance, there were 19 births in 2020 and 18 births in 2021.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, there have been 10,882 babies named Lona born in the United States. Despite the fluctuations in popularity over time, the name Lona continues to be used for newborns today, although at a much lower frequency than during its peak years in the early to mid-20th century.
These statistics demonstrate the changing tastes and preferences of parents when it comes to naming their children, as well as the influence of historical events and trends on baby name popularity.