At a Glance: Name: Yona – Meaning: bear – Origin: Cherokee – Pronunciation: YOH-nah
Yona is a Cherokee name used for both boys and girls meaning “bear”. It appears in our list of 200+ Native American Baby Names Honoring Indigenous Heritage.
Meaning & Origin of Yona
Meaning: Bear.
Origin: Cherokee.
A common claim: Sometimes associated with the Hebrew name Yonah/Jonah ('dove') because of the similar spelling. Actually: These are unrelated names from unrelated language families -- the Cherokee word yona means 'bear,' not 'dove.'
How to Pronounce Yona
Phonetic: YOH-nah IPA: /ˈjoʊ.nə/
Popularity of Yona
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1924–2024.
Lists That Include Yona
Similar Names
Atsila · Wyanet · Ahuli · Wohali · Galadi · Wesa
