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Iona

Girl name · 3,274 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Iona: 3,274 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 144 births in 2007.

Iona takes its name from the Hebridean island where Saint Columba founded a monastery in 563 AD; the name is of Gaelic origin, possibly from Ì meaning “island”, giving it a serene, spiritual quality. Notable bearers include violinist Iona Brown, who led the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and folklorist Iona Opie, co‑compiler of classic nursery rhyme collections. The name’s direct place connection is the island itself, a historic pilgrimage site, and it shares its root with other Scottish island names like Islay. Though sometimes confused with the Greek name Ione meaning “violet flower”, Iona stands as a distinctly Scottish place‑name turned given name, popular among parents drawn to lyrical, landscape‑rooted names. In Scotland it has been a consistent if uncommon choice since the 1970s, and is used for both boys and girls, though more often for girls.