Runa
|Ru-na|
/ˈruːnə/
secret / rune (female given name)
Etymology
'Runa' ultimately derives from Old Norse 'rún' meaning 'secret' or 'mystery' (also 'rune' in the sense of a runic letter).
'rún' in Old Norse gave rise to personal names such as 'Rúna' in medieval and modern Scandinavian naming; this evolved into the modern given name 'Runa' used in various languages.
Originally it referred to 'secret', 'mystery', or a 'runic character'; over time it became used primarily as a feminine personal name rather than retaining a lexical sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a female given name of Old Norse origin, derived from Old Norse rún meaning 'secret' or 'rune'.
Runa smiled when she received the letter.
Noun 2
a Japanese feminine given name (often written in hiragana るな or katakana ルナ), with meanings varying depending on chosen kanji.
Runa is a popular name for baby girls in some regions of Japan.
Noun 3
a variant form of the Icelandic/Scandinavian name 'Rúna' used in several Northern European cultures.
The novelist named her protagonist Runa to evoke a Nordic feel.
Last updated: 2025/09/17 11:40