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Shiona

Girl name · 30 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Shiona: 30 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 1980.

Shiona is a Scottish Gaelic name, a feminine form of Seònaid, itself a Gaelic adaptation of Joan, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." It is closely related to the more common Siobhán and the English Joan, but Shiona has a distinctly Scottish flavour. One notable bearer was Shiona Baird, a Scottish Green Party politician who served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in the early 2000s, championing environmental causes. The name shares its root with the place name Johnstone, a town in Renfrewshire, though the connection is indirect. Shiona is sometimes considered a variant of the Irish Siobhán, but in Scotland it stands as a graceful, less common alternative to Fiona, with a soft, melodic sound that feels both traditional and fresh.