Iona Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Iona is a name with Scottish Gaelic roots, derived from the island of Iona, carrying meanings associated with blessing and peace. Its historical forms include 'Iòna' in Gaelic and 'Iona' in English. The name has gained popularity since the 19th century due to its cultural and religious significance. It is associated with traits of serenity and spirituality and has no biblical references. Notable individuals with this name include Iona Brown and Iona Opie.
The name Iona is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Iona has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Iona' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24088th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 23106th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 369th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 551st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1370th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3255th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6484th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4419th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2817th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Iona' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Iona"
Pronunciation
/aɪˈoʊ.nə/
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
The name Iona is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'Iòna', which refers to the Scottish island of Iona, known for its historic abbey and as a center of early Christian activity.
Meaning
Iona is often associated with 'blessed' or 'peace' due to its historical connections to the Christian faith.
Language Evolution
Iòna (Scottish Gaelic), Iona (English)
Historical Usage
The name Iona gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Scotland, as the island became a significant site for pilgrimage and religious significance.
Variants & Derivatives
Ione, Ionah
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Iona is perceived as a beautiful and serene name, often associated with nature and spirituality, and it has gained a following in various English-speaking countries.
Famous People
Iona Brown (violinist), Iona Opie (folklorist and children's literature scholar)
Explore More Iona Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Iona"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Iona"
"Iona" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 24088th of 24088 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 23106th of 23106 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 369th of 9107 | 5,714 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 551st of 9204 | 2,882 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1370th of 12526 | 1,087 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3255th of 19264 | 332 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 6484th of 27321 | 190 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4419th of 35406 | 490 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2817th of 30306 | 729 |
Regional Popularity of "Iona" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Iona" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
19.84% 281st/1416 |
30.53% 421st/1379 |
16.57% 392nd/2366 |
47.55% 543rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
28.91% 447th/1546 |
39.65% 617th/1556 |
23.16% 545th/2353 |
81.71% 1264th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
65.92% 1468th/2227 |
55.43% 1347th/2430 |
51.35% 1465th/2853 |
78.05% 2166th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
- |
81.80% 3308th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
- |
47.85% 3571st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
84.49% 3366th/3984 |
59.04% 2649th/4487 |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
37.21% 2335th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Iona"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Iona" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.