Iona

At a Glance

Meaning

The name of the Scottish island; the island's own name likely stems from a medieval scribal misreading rather than being a straightforward word

Origin

Scottish (place name)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

eye-OH-nahListen

Iona is the name of a Scottish island, and it carries that outdoorsy, nature-inspired feel into a romantic, storybook name with a worldly, vintage air. You may have heard it means 'dove', but that mix-up comes from Columba, the Latin word for 'dove' and the saint associated with the island; 'dove' isn't the meaning of Iona itself. It's pronounced eye-OH-nah.

Meaning & Origin of Iona

Meaning: The name of the Scottish island; the island's own name likely stems from a medieval scribal misreading rather than being a straightforward word.

Origin: Scottish (place name).

A common claim: Iona is sometimes said to mean 'dove' Actually: This confuses the island's name with 'Columba' (Latin for 'dove'), the saint associated with Iona — 'dove' isn't the meaning of the word 'Iona' itself.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Iona

Popularity of Iona

Iona peaked at #318 in 1918, when 404 U.S. girls were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #2777, with 61 babies, so it's a rare find today.

Names Like Iona

These names share Iona’s style, era or origin.

• Rhona
• Violeta
• Ainsley
• Amihan
• Arran
• Branwen

FAQ

What does the name Iona mean?

The name of the Scottish island; the island’s own name likely stems from a medieval scribal misreading rather than being a straightforward word. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Iona?

Iona is pronounced eye-OH-nah (IPA: /aɪˈoʊnə/).

Is Iona a popular name right now?

Iona peaked at #318 in 1918 and is ranked #2777 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Iona Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Iona, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.