Leona is the feminine form of Leon, from the Latin leo, "lion", so it means "lioness". British singer Leona Lewis gave the vintage name new sparkle when she won The X Factor in 2006, and it fits with the revival of Nora, Cora and Vera. Leona re-entered the US top 1000 in 2009 and has climbed to number 429 in 2025, its best rank of this century.