Yvonne

Yvonne is a French feminine form derived from the Germanic element iv, meaning yew, a wood traditionally used to make bows, making the name closely connected to archery and woodland craftsmanship. It developed as a feminine counterpart to the masculine name Yves and its longer form Yvon, all tracing back to the same Germanic root transmitted through Old French. The name spread widely across Western Europe and the English-speaking world during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, enjoying particular popularity in the mid-twentieth century. Related forms include Yves, Yvette, and the older Germanic Ivo and Iva.