Mona

Mona has several independent histories. In Irish use it is an English form of Muadhnait, a name built from a word for noble or good with an affectionate ending. In Arabic, Mona represents Muna, meaning wishes or desires. Scandinavian families also use Mona as a short form of Monica, whose own origin is uncertain.

The famous painting Mona Lisa adds another association, but Mona there comes from an Italian form of address meaning my lady. That title does not explain every person named Mona. A family's language and intended connection can distinguish these stories, whether the name honors a relative, preserves an Irish form, or carries the Arabic idea of wishes.