UK girl's name
Una
A name derived from the Latin word "unus" meaning "one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Una is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Una popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #565, with 69 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 75 births.
This profile covers 945 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 92% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,251 living people in the UK are called Una. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Una ranked #565 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 69 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 75 girls were registered as Una.
- • Una ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #196 in 2024.
- • About 1,251 living people in the UK are estimated to have Una as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#565
2024
Births in 2024
69
Latest year
Peak year
2023
75 births
Estimated living
1,251
2026
Meaning
What does Una mean?
The name Una has its origins in the Latin language, emerging during the period of ancient Rome. It is derived from the Latin word "una," meaning "one" or "singular." The name carries connotations of uniqueness, individuality, and being one of a kind.
In ancient Roman mythology, Una was a minor goddess associated with unity and singularity. She was often depicted alongside the personification of oneness and singularity. The name may have been used as a symbolic representation of these concepts in ancient times.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Una can be found in Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," published in 1590. In the poem, Una is a central character who represents truth and encompasses the virtues of faith, constancy, and patience.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Una. One of the most famous was Una Marson (1905-1965), a Jamaican feminist, activist, and playwright who played a significant role in the Jamaican labor movement and the promotion of women's rights.
Another prominent figure was Una Troubridge (1887-1963), an English sculptor and writer who was known for her close relationship with the renowned author Radclyffe Hall. Troubridge's works included busts and portraits of notable figures in the arts and literature.
In the field of literature, Una Vincenzo, Lady Troubridge (1887-1963), was an English writer and sculptor who was closely associated with the Bloomsbury Group. She is known for her memoir "The Life and Death of Radclyffe Hall," which chronicled her relationship with the renowned author.
Una O'Connor (1880-1959) was an Irish-American actress who had a successful career in both film and theater. She appeared in numerous classic movies, including "The Invisible Man" and "Bride of Frankenstein," and was known for her comedic talent.
Una Ledingham (1910-1976) was a British actress who gained fame for her roles in several Ealing Studios comedies, including "The Ladykillers" and "The Lavender Hill Mob." She was widely recognized for her talent in portraying eccentric and quirky characters.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Una throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the richness of the name's legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Una over time
The chart below shows babies named Una registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Una, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 69 births in 2024, compared with 75 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Una by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Una was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #589 | 330 | 5 |
| 2010s | #855 | 481 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2147 | 102 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2086 | 32 | 4 |
Geography
Where Una is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Una. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Una ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #196 in 2024.
Across the UK
Una in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#196 in 2024
19 years of NRS records, 145 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#227 in 2024
25 years of NISRA records, 167 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Una
-
Una Harkin
association football player
Northern Ireland footballer (born 1983)
1983-
-
Una Nwajei
association football player
Nigerian-born English footballer (born 1977)
1977-
-
Una McCormack
writer; novelist; science fiction writer
British author
1972-
-
Una Henry
photographer; exhibition curator; sculptor; installation artist; video artist
Irish photographer (born 1971)
1971-
-
Una Baines
drummer
British musician
1957-
-
Una Walker
visual artist
1955-
-
Una Stubbs
actor; stage actor; film actor
English actress, television personality, and former dancer (1937-2021)
1937-2021
-
Una McLean
actor; comedian
British actress
1930-
Related
Names similar to Una
- Uma 592
- Umaiza 556
- Umaymah 540
- Umme 508
- Ursula 481
- Umaima 407
- Uzma 370
- Umaimah 333
- Umayyah 238
- Umamah 231
- Urwa 200
- Ugne 189
FAQ
Una: questions and answers
How popular is the name Una in the UK right now?
In 2024, Una was ranked #565 for girls in England and Wales, with 69 births registered.
When was Una most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 75 babies registered as Una in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Una?
A name derived from the Latin word "unus" meaning "one".
How many people are called Una in the UK?
A total of 945 babies have been registered as Una across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 145 more in Scotland and 167 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Una most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Una ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #196 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.