Entry № 0560 · Scottish Gaelic origin

Iona Iona — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ eye-OH-nah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Meaning
"From Iona; yew"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Scottish)

A name that means "from iona; yew".

Iona is the name of a small Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides — one of the most important early Christian sites in Britain, where Saint Columba founded a monastery in 563 CE that became the source of much Celtic Christian art and the Book of Kells.

The etymology of the island name is debated — possibly from Old Norse "island of the yew tree" or older Gaelic. Iona as a girls' name is rising in the Scottish-influenced English-speaking world.

The Scottish island. Saint Columba's monastery, given as a name.

Where Iona stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Iona · last year
142 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Ionas before her.

Real people
Iona Brown
British violinist.
1941 – 2004
In fiction
Iona
Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Iona.

The number behind Iona.

2

The Diplomat

Iona reduces to two — the number of sacred island.

Why families chose this name.

"We honeymooned on Iona. The island gave us her name."
Margaret · Mother of one · Edinburgh