Yola

♀ Girl

Pronounced YOH-luh /ˈjoʊ.lə/Medium

Meaning: Yola is a compact name usually read as a short form of Yolanda, itself traced to a Greek and Old French root tied to the violet flower, or of the Latin Viola, 'violet'. Either way it carries a floral sense in a brisk two-syllable shape.Low

In 30 seconds: Yola is a short form of Yolanda or Viola, names linked to the violet flower. It has stayed very rare (said 'YOH-luh').

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Origin LowSpanish, Greek

MeaningYola is a compact name usually read as a short form of Yolanda, itself traced to a Greek and Old French root tied to the violet flower, or of the Latin Viola, 'violet'. Either way it carries a floral sense in a brisk two-syllable shape.

U.S. rank (1983)#10265 ↗ Rising

1983 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1915

Total births (all-time)≈ 587

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

Yola is a brief, bright name generally taken as a short form of Yolanda or Viola. Yolanda is traced through Old French to a root associated with the violet, while Viola is simply the Latin for that flower. Yola appears in scattered use across the twentieth century, often in Spanish-speaking or European-heritage families.

Yola was never common - only a few dozen girls a year at its faint peak in the 1910s, thinly spread over a long span. It reads as a heritage short form rather than a name of any single fashion, and it has stayed a genuine rarity throughout.

Did you know? Yola's likely parents - Yolanda and Viola - both circle the violet flower, giving this short name a quietly floral background.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Yola / Yolanda — Short form of Yolanda/Viola; violet root

Variations

YolandaIolaViolaYolla

Nicknames

YoyoLola

Famous Bearers

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If you like Yola…

Yolanda— the parent name, tied to the violet

Viola— the Latin 'violet' name Yola may shorten

Iola— a similar short vintage floral-feeling name

Lola— a comparable brisk two-beat short form

Explore names like Yola

By themerare vintage spanish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yola mean?

Yola is a short form of Yolanda or Viola, names connected to the violet flower through Greek and Latin roots.

How do you pronounce Yola?

It's said YOH-luh /ˈjoʊ.lə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Yola a boy or girl name?

Yola is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Yola?

Yola has always been very rare, a quiet short form of Yolanda or Viola.