Luana is a feminine name of undetermined, multiple origins. It was among the top 10 most popular names for baby girls born in

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

in 2020. It is in use in other countries as well. It ranked among the top 50 names used for girls born in

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

in recent years and was among the top 200 names used for girls born in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

between 1999 and 2006. It has ranked among the top 500 names given to girls born in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

in recent years. There were 95 girls born in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

in 2020, 110 girls in 2021 and 105 girls in 2022 who were given the name. It has also been well used in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, ranking among the top 30 names for girls in 2020. It also ranked among the top 100 names for girls born in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

in 2018 and among the top 1,000 names for girls born in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

in 2019.

Origins

Usage of the name might have been inspired by characters in theatrical productions and films. It was the name of the Polynesian heroine in the 1932 film '' Bird of Paradise'', which was based on a 1912 play. Luana is also a character in the 1982 Italian film '' Daughter of the Jungle''. Some sources say the name means “

happiness Happiness, in the context of Mental health, mental or emotional states, is positive or Pleasure, pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishin ...

” or having a good time in Hawaiian. It might also be a feminine version of the

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

name Luàn, meaning “

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

”. It might also be used as a combination of the names

Louise Louise or Luise may refer to: * Louise (given name) Arts Songs * "Louise" (Bonnie Tyler song), 2005 * "Louise" (The Human League song), 1984 * "Louise" (Jett Rebel song), 2013 * "Louise" (Maurice Chevalier song), 1929 *"Louise", by Clan of ...

Lucy Lucy is an English feminine given name derived from the Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning ''as of light'' (''born at dawn or daylight'', maybe also ''shiny'', or ''of light complexion''). Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Luci ...

and

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...

. It might be derived from the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

word “luan”, meaning a shade between

yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the R ...

and

brown Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors orange and black. In the RGB color model used ...

, or as a feminine form of the name Luanus.

People

Luana Anders Luana Anders (born Luana Margo Anderson, May 12, 1938 – July 21, 1996) was an American film and television actress and screenwriter. Career Anders began her career with supporting roles for American International Pictures. Some of the early fi ...

(1938–1996), American actress and screenwriter * Luana Angeloni (born 1952), Italian teacher and politician *

Luàna Bajrami Luàna Bajrami-Rahmani (; born 14 March 2001) is a French-Kosovar actress. She is known for her roles in the films ''Portrait of a Lady on Fire'' (2019) and '' School's Out'' (2018). She made her directorial debut with ''The Hill Where Lionesses ...

(born 2001), Kosovan-French actress and film maker *

Luana Bertolucci Paixão Luana Bertolucci Paixão (born 2 May 1993), known as Luana, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Orlando Pride and the Brazil women's national team. Club career Luana was attached to São Bernardo, São Ca ...

(born 1993), Brazilian football player *

Luana Carolina Luana Carolina Carvalho de Souza (born June 11, 1993) is a female Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts career Early career Starting her career in 2015, Ca ...

(born 1993), Brazilian mixed martial artist *

Luana Muñoz Luana Florencia Muñoz (born 22 January 1999) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a centre-back for Celtic and the Argentina women's national team. She transferred to Texas Tech after two seasons at Tyler Junior College. International caree ...

(born 1999), Argentine professional footballer *

Countess Luana of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

(born 2005), member of the Dutch royal family *

Luana Patten Luana Patten (July 6, 1938 – May 1, 1996) was an American actress who appeared in films produced by Walt Disney Pictures, such as '' Song of the South'' (1946), ''Fun and Fancy Free'' (1947), and ''Melody Time'' (1948). Later in life, she pl ...

(1938–1996) American actress *

Luana Piovani Luana Elídia Afonso Piovani (, born 29 August 1976) is a Brazilian actress, TV host, and former model. Career Piovani started her career as a Ford Models Agency model in 1990 and a year later spent some time working in Japan. Piovani's first ...

(born 1976), Brazilian actress and former model *

Luana Tanaka Luana Tanaka Ostan (born October 11, 1989) is a Brazilian actress. Biography Luana Tanaka was born in São Paulo, Brazil. She is of Japanese, French and Belgian descent. She gained fame after playing the part of the dekasegi Keiko, in the ...

(born 1989), Brazilian actress *

Luana Walters Luana Walters (July 22, 1912 – May 19, 1963) was an American motion picture actress from Los Angeles, California. Biography Walters was an expert horsewoman, which led to her discovery as an actress at a rodeo in Palm Springs, California. ...

(1912–1963), American actress *

Luana Volnovich Luana Volnovich (born 26 September 1979) is an Argentine political scientist and Justicialist Party politician. She currently serves as a National Deputy elected in Buenos Aires Province, a position she previously held from 2015 to 2019. From ...

(born 1979), Argentine politician *

Luana Zanella Luana Zanella (born 4 October 1950 in Venice) is an Italian teacher and politician from Green Europe Green Europe ( it, Europa Verde, EV), officially Green Europe – Greens (''Europa Verde – Verdi''), is a green political party in Italy. It ...

(born 1950), Italian politician

Places

Luana, Iowa Luana is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 301 at the time of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, up from 249 in 2000. Luana is the site of a large Cheese, cheese factory of Swiss Valle ...

, town in Iowa named in honor of the founder's wife.

Notes

{{given name English given names invented by fiction writers Feminine given names Given names derived from animals Given names inspired by popular culture