Iona
Iona is a girls' name of Scottish origin meaning “from the island of Iona.”
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how do you pronounce Iona?
eye-OH-nah
where does the name Iona come from?
The derivation is uncertain. It probably arose from a misreading of Ioua, an attempt to Latinize the island's Gaelic name, and the toponymist William J. Watson suggested the earliest forms point to a meaning like yew-place.
Iona is a small Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides, famous as the site of the 6th-century monastery founded by Saint Columba, a center of early Celtic Christianity. The name evokes misty Scottish landscapes and spiritual heritage.
how popular is this name?
Iona has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 67 years since 1880. It peaked at #317 in 1918, and ranked #849 in 1946.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1946 | #849 |
| 1945 | #842 |
| 1944 | #787 |
| 1943 | #742 |
| 1942 | #704 |
| 1941 | #756 |
| 1940 | #706 |
| 1939 | #551 |
| 1938 | #604 |
| 1937 | #606 |
| 1930 | #442 |
| 1920 | #338 |
| 1918 | #317 |
| 1910 | #356 |
| 1900 | #370 |
| 1890 | #412 |
| 1880 | #388 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Iona fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Iona
The name is taken from the Scottish island of Iona, which holds a special place in the history of Christianity; St Columba founded a monastery there in 563.
who are famous people named Iona?
- Saint Columba (associated with Iona)
- Iona Brown (violinist)
what names are similar to Iona?
what names go well with Iona?
Sibling names that share Iona's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Iona
What does the name Iona mean?
Iona means “from the island of Iona”.
What is the origin of the name Iona?
Iona comes from the Scottish naming tradition.
How popular is the name Iona?
Iona ranked #849 in the US in 1946, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1918, at #317, and it has spent 67 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Iona a boy or girl name?
Iona is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Iona?
Iona is pronounced eye-OH-nah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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