Shona
Fact sheet
- Name
- Shona
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
The first name Shona is the English variant of Seonaid, which represents the Scottish and Gaelic form of Johanna. Translated, the name means 'Yahweh is gracious' and 'Yahweh is good'.
What does the name Shona mean?
Shona is the English spelling of Seonaid, the Scottish and Gaelic form of the name Johanna. The name is translated as 'Yahweh is gracious' and 'Yahweh is good'. Its origins lie in Ancient Hebrew, derived from the elements yô (יֹו), meaning 'name of God', and ḥanán (חָנַן), meaning 'to be gracious', 'to be good', 'to have mercy', or 'to pardon'. In Australia, the name is often used as a term for 'young girl'. Additionally, Shona refers to an ethnic group consisting of several tribes in southern Africa, predominantly in Zimbabwe.
Where does the name Shona come from?
The name Shona has Ancient Hebrew roots and means 'Yahweh is gracious' or 'Yahweh is good'.
How do you pronounce Shona?
Shona is pronounced like 'Shona'.
When is the name day of Shona?
The name day for Shona is celebrated on February 4, May 12, May 24, May 30, and December 12.
Popularity
In Germany, Shona is a rather rare first name. In 2022, it ranked 5,539th among the most common female first names. Its highest ranking was in 2015, at 4,092nd place. Over the last ten years, Shona has been given as a first name about 20 times, resulting in a 10-year statistic ranking of 7,036th. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 8,440th.
Nicknames & pet names
Schote / Shon / Shonalein / Shonchen / Shoni / Shony / Shosho
Similar first names
Famous people
- Shona Auerbach (film director from England)
- Shona Barbour (Canadian curler)
- Shona Fraser (British music journalist and member of the DSDS jury)
- Shona Gilchrist (cricketer from New Zealand)
- Shona Laing (singer from New Zealand)
- Shona Le Mottee (Canadian musician)
- Shona McCullough (dream researcher in Doctor Who (Last Christmas))
- Shona McFarlane (New Zealand writer)
- Shona Rubens (alpine ski racer from America)
- Shona Schleppe (hockey player)
- Shona Thorburn (Canadian basketball player)
Frequently asked questions about the name Shona
What is the origin of the name Shona?
The name Shona has Ancient Hebrew roots and is used in the English and Scottish languages.
What does the name Shona mean?
Shona means 'Yahweh is gracious' or 'Yahweh is good', derived from the Ancient Hebrew elements yô (name of God) and ḥanán (to be gracious).
How popular is the name Shona?
The name Shona enjoys great popularity in various countries, particularly in Australia, where it is often also used as a term for 'young girl'.