Ríona
Say it: REE-na
GirlIrishMeans usually linked with ríon, "queen"5 letters2 syllables
#213
in Ireland (2025)
#162 with spellings combined
29
babies in 2025
#142
best rank (2024)
736
babies since 1976
Up 96
10-year rank change
Ríona through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #162 |
| 2024 | 33 | #142 |
| 2023 | 19 | #220 |
| 2022 | 28 | #174 |
| 2021 | 24 | #201 |
| 2020 | 25 | #186 |
| 2019 | 29 | #177 |
| 2018 | 30 | #178 |
| 2017 | 16 | #289 |
| 2016 | 22 | #217 |
| 2015 | 20 | #258 |
| 2014 | 14 | #336 |
| 2013 | 23 | #232 |
| 2012 | 21 | #244 |
| 2011 | 19 | #266 |
| 2010 | 37 | #169 |
| 2009 | 34 | #177 |
| 2008 | 30 | #189 |
| 2007 | 29 | #189 |
| 2006 | 29 | #169 |
| 2005 | 15 | #256 |
| 2004 | 23 | #181 |
| 2003 | 20 | #189 |
| 2002 | 12 | #278 |
| 2001 | 8 | #335 |
| 2000 | 8 | #325 |
| 1999 | 8 | #295 |
| 1998 | 8 | #293 |
| 1997 | 8 | #346 |
| 1996 | 8 | #333 |
| 1995 | 4 | #451 |
| 1994 | 4 | #450 |
| 1993 | 5 | #415 |
| 1992 | 7 | #364 |
| 1991 | 8 | #338 |
| 1990 | 4 | #446 |
| 1989 | 5 | #408 |
| 1988 | 5 | #407 |
| 1987 | 7 | #362 |
| 1986 | 9 | #320 |
| 1985 | 7 | #362 |
| 1983 | 9 | #331 |
| 1982 | 6 | #399 |
| 1981 | 5 | #423 |
| 1980 | 5 | #432 |
| 1979 | 5 | #420 |
| 1978 | 4 | #469 |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1976 | 5 | #392 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Ríona mean?
Usually linked with ríon, "queen"
Irish, usually linked with the word ríon (queen), from Old Irish rígain.
Say it right
REEna
The "í" is a long "ee". Some people give the middle vowel its own beat and say REE-a-na.
Not:ree-OH-naRYE-o-na
The story of Ríona
Ríona is an Irish girls’ name that is usually linked with ríon, an Irish word for a queen or noble lady. That word goes back to Old Irish rígain (queen). The exact history of the name is not well recorded, so the link is best taken as the usual explanation rather than a certainty.
The CSO counts spellings separately. Ríona, with the fada, is now the more common choice, while Riona was the usual spelling before the CSO recorded fadas.
The name first appears in the CSO records in 1976. It peaked in 2010, with 37 babies, and its best rank was number 142 in 2024 on the combined list. In 2025 there were 20 babies named Ríona and 9 named Riona. Together they made 29, which puts the name at number 162 in 2025 on the combined list.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: ríon (Irish noun)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ríona | 20 | 194 |
| Riona | 9 | 542 |
In Northern Ireland
#154 in 2025 with 12 babies. Best rank #154 (2025); 179 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.