Iona

Meaning & origin

Iona, a name with deep Scottish roots, has seen a resurgence in recent decades. First recorded in 1880, the name reached its peak popularity in 1918. After a decline, it has been rising again since 1995. In 2025, the name ranked 2,645th with a 1-in-24,727 birth rate, indicating a steady but modest revival. The name has been most commonly used in New York and California. Iona's meaning is tied to the historic Hebridean island of Iona, a place of early Christian pilgrimage and a center of Celtic Christianity. While the island's etymology is debated, the name carries a strong sense of Scottish heritage and natural beauty. Despite its long history, Iona remains a distinctive choice, favored by parents seeking a name that is both traditional and uncommon.

Iona is the name of a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, historically significant as the site of a monastery founded by Saint Columba in the 6th century. The island's name is of uncertain origin; it may derive from the Old Norse 'ey' meaning 'island', or from a Gaelic word related to 'yew'. In Greek, the name Iona is a feminine form of Ionas, the Greek form of Jonah, meaning 'dove'.