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Iona

♀ Girl

Pronounced YON-a /ˈjoʊn.æ/Low

Meaning: Origin uncertainLow

In 30 seconds: Iona is an English-language name whose origin is genuinely uncertain.
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Origin LowUncertain
MeaningOrigin uncertain
U.S. rank (2024)#2777 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births61 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 12,186

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Iona is a name without a settled origin or meaning in the records here. It is most familiar as a flowing, three-syllable name with a gentle vowel-rich sound. Beyond that, honesty requires leaving its history open rather than inventing one.

With no listed variations, nicknames or bearers, Iona stands largely on its melodic sound alone.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Iona is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Iona — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Iona…

Fiona— shares the same soft -ona ending and lilting rhythm
Mona— another short name closing on the same -ona note

Frequently Asked

What does the name Iona mean?

Iona is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Iona?

It's commonly said YON-a /ˈjoʊn.æ/.

Is Iona a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Iona is used as a girl name.

How popular is Iona?

In 2024, Iona ranked #2777 in the U.S. for girls, with 61 births recorded.