Sharona

Sharona is an elaborated form of Sharon, a name with roots in the Old Testament. The base name Sharon derives from the Hebrew שָׁרוֹן (Sharon), meaning "plain," referring to a fertile plain along the central west coast of Israel. In the Bible, Sharon is also associated with the "rose of Sharon" (Song of Solomon 2:1), a term that later came to denote several flower species. While Sharon has been used as a feminine given name in English since the 1920s—possibly popularized by the heroine in Adela Rogers St. Johns' serial novel The Skyrocket (1925)—Sharona extends that name with an elaborate suffix, giving it a distinct identity.

In Israel, Sharona is also the name of a moshav (a cooperative agricultural community) in northern Israel. Located southwest of Tiberias, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Lower Galilee Regional Council. As of 2024, the moshav had a population of 680. The area has historical significance: approximately 1.5 kilometers southeast of the modern settlement lies the ruin of Horvat Sarona, where a spring house remains. In the 4th century, Eusebius referenced a district called Sharona stretching from Mount Tabor to the Sea of Tiberias. Archaeologist Eleazar Sukenik identified remnants of an ancient synagogue at the site, including a basalt lintel carved with a menorah flanked by birds, and a stone with grapevine motifs, as well as remains of a church. These findings suggest a long-standing Jewish and Christian presence in the region.

As a given name, Sharona remains uncommon but is recognized within Hebrew and English naming traditions. Its variant forms include Sharron and Sharyn, while the diminutive Shari is also used in English. The name Sharona merges biblical heritage with a melodic, modern flair, and its dual reference—both to a biblical plain and an Israeli moshav—gives it layers of meaning.

• Meaning: Elaborated form of Sharon, "plain" or "rose of Sharon"
• Origin: Hebrew, with English usage
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage Regions: Israel, English-speaking countries