Iyona

♀ Girl

Pronounced eye-OH-nuh /aɪˈoʊ.nə/Medium

Meaning: Iyona is an expanded spelling of Iona, the name of the small, historically Christian island off western Scotland. The place name's own origin is uncertain, possibly from a Gaelic word for 'yew tree'; the given name evokes the island's serene, sacred reputation.Low

In 30 seconds: Iyona is a decorated spelling of Iona, the sacred Scottish island (said eye-OH-nuh). The inserted y gives the vintage name a fresh look; it stayed rare, peaking in the mid-2000s.

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Origin LowScottish Gaelic, English

MeaningIyona is an expanded spelling of Iona, the name of the small, historically Christian island off western Scotland. The place name's own origin is uncertain, possibly from a Gaelic word for 'yew tree'; the given name evokes the island's serene, sacred reputation.

U.S. rank (2023)#16124 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2005

Total births (all-time)≈ 473

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Iyona is a phonetic elaboration of Iona, whose name comes from the little Hebridean island long revered as a cradle of Scottish Christianity. The island name is of uncertain, likely Gaelic origin, sometimes linked to a word for 'yew'. Adding a y in the middle turned the spare, historic Iona into something that looked more modern and personalized while keeping its gentle three-beat sound.

Iyona appears in the U.S. record from the late 1970s and reached its small peak in 2005 before easing off. A girl named Iyona at that peak is now in her late teens or twenties. It has never been common in either spelling; the vintage-island Iona is enjoying mild new interest, and Iyona rides quietly alongside it as a rarer, dressed-up cousin.

Did you know? The island of Iona, where Saint Columba founded a monastery in 563, lends the name a quiet, spiritual weight that many parents feel even without knowing the geography behind it.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Iyona — Elaboration of Iona, Scottish island; origin uncertain, poss. Gaelic 'yew'

Variations

IonaIonnaIyonnaEyona

Nicknames

IyoYonaOnie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Iyona…

Iona— the traditional island name Iyona elaborates

Fiona— shares the -iona sound and Scottish flavor

Ramona— another gentle three-beat -ona name

Iyonna— a sister respelling with the doubled n

Explore names like Iyona

By themeplace-name variant 2000s

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Iyona mean?

Iyona is an expanded spelling of Iona, named for the historically Christian island off western Scotland.

How do you pronounce Iyona?

It's said eye-OH-nuh /aɪˈoʊ.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Iyona a boy or girl name?

Iyona is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Iyona?

Iyona has always been rare in the U.S., a decorated spelling of the vintage island name Iona.