Monna is a feminine given name in English, used more prominently in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a rare variant of the Irish name Mona.The ultimate origin of Monna is found in the Celtic name Muadhnait, from the Old Irish poetic word muad meaning "noble, good" combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the meaning "little noble one". This links Monna to the 6th-century Saint Muadhnait, sister of Saint Mo Laisse, known from Irish hagiography. The phonetic journey from Muadhnait across Old Irish, Middle Irish, and Anglicization gave rise to forms including Monat and Mona 1, to which Monna is related. In addition, the form Moyna appears in Anglicized records.Beyond the Celtic derivation, the name Mona has been influenced by Italian culture through Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa. In that case, the word "mona" is a contraction of ma donna ("my lady") in Italian, and also resembles monos ("one") in Greek; these cross-associations pertained enough to the medieval period that the Anglicized Mona gained cultural currency by itself. Monna emerges as a particular English spelling variant employed mainly for its softer sound or visual distinctness. Wikipedia describes Monna as a rare name regardless of origin.Notable BearersJournalists and performers nameholders are recorded among given-name bearers; occasionally the surname Monna also appears. Among prominent women named Monna are Monna Tandberg (1939–2025), esteemed Norwegian actress, and names using Monna similarly: pianist and actress María Luisa Fernández assumed the pseudonym Monna Lissa. Singer Emma Romero used Monna Bell as an artistic name. Surname bearers count Italian sport shooter Paolo Monna (born 1998), mathematician Antonie Frans Monna, a historian and provost in Utrecht, and the baseball player Tetsuhiro Monna. Since many immigrants identified these forms, the surname abounds in distinct national lines.Cultural ContextAccording to census databases for North America and British records, Monna appears more frequently in the Victorian period for nickname adoption, while modern naming records show renaissance familiarity because of Italian Roris picturing, although Monna resurfaces only as rarities. Cognates appear throughout Celtic and Old Irish records previously used at early churches.Meaning: "little noble one" from Irish Muadhnait, plus Greek/Italian – “one” or “my lady”.Origin: Irish (roots in Old Irish and Anglicized spelling).Type and regions: Feminine given name with English usage; also Southern Europe, Japan, etc.