Yvonne

I think this name is wonderfully lush and warm-sounding. It means "yew," a tree which symbolized eternal life to the Celts - certainly a beneficial sentiment to wish for one's child.

Pronounced /ee VON/, this is a feminine form of the French name Yves, which is rooted in the germanic word ir meaning "yew tree." Another feminine form of this name is Yvette.

Yvonne is often listed in baby name books as meaning 'archer.' This may be based on the fact that arrows were traditionally made from yew trees, but the meaning ultimately is inaccurate.

In the USA, the "y" in this name is often pronounced, making the name sound like /yuh VON/ or /wy VON/.
See Also: Yvette, Yavonn

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