Iona
Meaningisland of yew trees · Scottish Gaelic
Iona is a Gaelic girl name meaning “island of yew trees”, with Scottish Gaelic roots. Scottish Gaelic names carry the sound of the Highlands and islands where they're still spoken. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationIona peaked in 1918, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Iona would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 24,752 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryIona has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Ionas, and counting.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Iona
Iona is a girl name of Gaelic origin meaning “island of yew trees”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1910s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Gaelic names
Other spellings of Iona
More Gaelic girl names
- Girl name: Nora · honor
- Girl name: Hazel · hazel tree
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Girl name: Alana · possibly little rock
Questions about the name Iona
What does the name Iona mean?
Iona means “island of yew trees” and comes from Scottish Gaelic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Sydney (“wide island”), Kelsey (“Ceol's island”), Whitney (“white island”) and Lyle (“from the island”).
What is the origin of the name Iona?
Iona is Gaelic in origin, and its meaning traces back to Scottish Gaelic. Other Gaelic names to consider are Nora (“honor”), Hazel (“hazel tree”), Isla (“from Islay”) and Riley (“rye clearing”).
Is Iona a boy or girl name?
Iona is a girl name. In 2025, 65 US girls were named Iona.
How popular is the name Iona?
Iona ranked #2,645 for US girls in 2025, given to 65 babies. Its best year was 1918, when it reached #317. Over the last five years it has climbed 416 places.
What names are similar to Iona?
If you like Iona, you might also like Yonah, Yoona, Yona, Sydney and Kelsey. Yonah is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Iona?
Iona is a Gaelic girl name meaning “island of yew trees”, with Scottish Gaelic roots. Scottish Gaelic names carry the sound of the Highlands and islands where they're still spoken. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.