The first name Iona
A girl’s name.
Pronounced /aɪˈoʊnə/ 3 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Probably a misreading of Latin Ioua, an attempt to Latinize Old Irish Í.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 77 girls were named Iona, making it the 520th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2000, with 210 births (#199).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Iona with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Iona at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 65 girls born in the United States were named Iona, the 2,667th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 404 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Iona
6 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Iona AndersonAustralian swimmer, born 2005
- Iona BrownBritish violinist and conductor (1941–2004)
- Iona MoirBritish track cyclist, born 2003
- Iona CampagnoloCanadian politician, 1932–2024
- Archduchess Eleonore of AustriaAustrian Imperial and Royal, born 1994
- Annabelle NeilsonBritish socialite, fashion model, author, and television personality (1969–2018)
Questions
- What does the name Iona mean?
- Probably a misreading of Latin Ioua, an attempt to Latinize Old Irish Í.
- How popular is the name Iona?
- In 2025, 77 girls born in England and Wales were named Iona, ranking 520th. Its peak was 2000, with 210 births.
- Is Iona a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 12,261 US babies named Iona since 1880 were girls.
- When was Iona most popular?
- 1918 in the United States, when 404 babies were named Iona, its highest rank at 318th.
- How do you pronounce Iona?
- Iona is /aɪˈoʊnə/, 3 syllables.