Iona
A girls’ name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning from the island of iona; possibly holy island.
Iona by the numbers
In 2025, 77 babies in England and Wales were named Iona. In the US, 48 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in England and Wales than in the US.
Its American peak was 404 babies in 1918, so it is a 1910s name that has since fallen a long way.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Iona. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Inapure; a form of Ina or suffix indicating feminine12 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ilonalight, bright; a form of Helen5 in England and Wales (2025)
- Innainner or inward25 in the US (2017)
- Ionepurple flower; from Greek ion11 in England and Wales (2025)
- IoanaGod is gracious; a form of Joanna16 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ioladawn cloud; violet colored dawn4 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Iona
Names that are said the same way as Iona, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean holiness
Like Iona, each of these has holiness in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Arianavery holy; form of Ariadne3,870 in the US (2017)
- Ariannamost holy; form of Ariadne3,264 in the US (2017)
- Isabelledevoted to God; form of Elizabeth814 in England and Wales (2025)
- Sydneywide meadow or saint Denis2,047 in the US (2017)
- Trinitythe holy trinity or three in one1,864 in the US (2017)
- Izabelladevoted to God; variant of Isabella1,220 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean an island
Like Iona, each of these has an island in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Islaisland; from the river Islay1,959 in England and Wales (2025)
- Evelynnisland; a variant spelling of Evelyn938 in the US (2017)
- Skyesky; the Isle of Skye214 in England and Wales (2025)
- Kelseyisland of the ship; a place name799 in the US (2017)
- Whitneywhite island; from a place name336 in the US (2017)
- Lindseylinden tree island; variant of Lindsey316 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Iona
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