How do you pronounce the name Una?

[Jizzyjeff]

I'd love to get a percentage on how MNers pronounce this name, as I am thinking of using it for our baby daughter. I am especially interested in the pronunciation in the UK.

Yes YABU - Yoona
No YANBU - Oona

Maybe we should be posting our nationalities and where we live because that could affect your decision.

I said that I had never met a Una in real life, only know of Una Stubbs so would automatically pronounce it Yoona.

I wonder if those posters who do know Unas in RL and have only heard Oona are mostly Irish and/or live in Ireland.

I know a Una who is "Yoona" and finds it ridiculous that it could be pronounced any other way.

Our dog is Una and we pronounce it Oona

Childhood next door neighbour was yoona

@cariadlet

Maybe we should be posting our nationalities and where we live because that could affect your decision.

I said that I had never met a Una in real life, only know of Una Stubbs so would automatically pronounce it Yoona.

I wonder if those posters who do know Unas in RL and have only heard Oona are mostly Irish and/or live in Ireland.

Not me. I live in England and grew up in Wales. I've never heard Yoona.

Oona to me, I’m a Londoner. If you then told me it was pronounced yoona I’d go along with it no probs, but 1st instinct would be oona.

Totally agree on the yoona pronunciation being less pretty too. Have you considered Nuala, OP? Irish people often say it’s an old lady name but I think it’s gorgeous and a similar vibe to Una.

Of your other options I like Jasmine better than Scarlett, but Una is nicer than either.

@Citylady88

It's an Irish name. It is definitely pronounced Oona although there really should be a fada (accent) over the U. Alternative spellings are Oonagh and Oona. It's fairly common in Ireland although less so amongst young children.

I agree with Citylady88. But then, I’m Irish, living in Ireland, and have never heard it pronounced any other way, and now have learned that I’ve been pronouncing Una Stubbs’ name incorrectly for years! (I should have probably taken heed of the fact that she doesn’t use a fada I would still pronounce it as “Oona” though!

Not a huge fan of Nuala (might have something to do with a girl I went to school with 🙈)

Yes I think if I went for it, I'd use it with a fada, so Úna. Not sure how well understood that would be in the UK though..I don't want her to spend her life explaining her name

It’s pronounced Oona.. I live in England and have no connection to Ireland.
Also am I the only person who has never heard of Una Stubbs?

I've heard of Una Stubbs but I always pronounced it Oona. Honestly never heard of the pronunciation Yoona until I posted here the other day, I was gobsmacked and a bit gutted. Its put me right off.

My friends little girl is oonagh, I assumed it was spelt Una when she told me. If you like the sound more than the spelling you could always switch spellings?

West of Scotland here, I'd say Yoona.
I was at school with a Una pronounce Yoona so I just assumed that was how it was said. All my old school pals will be the same. So long as you don't live near us you'll be okay

Ooo-na
Never heard of Una Stubbs, only Una from the Saturdays and I thought she pronounces it Ooo-na

I originally preferred the Oonagh spelling but I realised, thanks to my last thread, that this is the anglicised version. I am half Irish and have a large Irish family, so I'd like to honour my heritage by spelling it the traditional way.

Spelling it without the fada means it will get mispronounced, spelling it with a fada may also cause confusion.

I have an unusual name (not Irish though) and have spent my life correcting people. I didn't really want this for my own child...

Oonah

I'm another You-na because of Una Stubbs (never met an Una or Oolagh IRL).

I have a relative called Ula, pronounced Oola, which I found hard at first as my brain was telling me You-la

Oo-na. I'm in London with Irish parents and as pp says it does tend to be a name in the older generation. I'm also old enough to know of Una Stubbs and have also pronounced that Oo-na!

@EllaBlaire, did you ever watch Worzel Gummidge? She's a brilliant actress.

I pronounce it Oona.

Ha ha by the time that your daughter is old enough to tell people her name the chance if her meeting anyone who has heard of Una Stubbs will be very small. She was the only Una I had ever heard off for years (fond memories of watching Give Us a Clue on daytime TV in the eighties, TV was so much simpler then ha ha).

It was only much later that I heard of “Oona”. Like a op I am from Scotland and I think there are quite a lot of Yoonas up there.

I think that Bridget Jones’ Mum’s nosey neighbour was called Una. I always read that as Yoona.

I've only ever heard it pronounced You-na

I can't see a voting option on my app but although I read it as oona, the only person I know irl that spells it that way is Yoona. All that pronounce it Oona spell it Oonagh

@EllaBlaire

It’s pronounced Oona.. I live in England and have no connection to Ireland. Also am I the only person who has never heard of Una Stubbs?

She played Mrs Hudson in the Benedict Cumberbatch versión if Sherlock Holmes.

She’s 84 now.

In Scotland, it's pronounced Yoona