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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Iona Alice

34 replies

Scottishgirl85 · 19/04/2018 11:02

This forum has helped us so much to narrow down our name list for our little girl who is due in 6 days, thank you. This will be my last thread, promise! 😁
What is your reaction to Iona Alice (pronounced eye-oh-na)? I'm Scottish and set on a Scottish name. We live in SE England. DD1 is called Eira Hope (Welsh connection on husband's side). Thank you!!

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Fifthtimelucky · 20/04/2018 21:33

I like Iona. I like Alice. I don't like them together. They would run into each other and end up sounding like Iona Ralice.

Groovee · 20/04/2018 12:48

I love Iona. The only reason I refused to have it because I worked with children and had a few in my room at the time. I would have it now. I would consider how Iona goes with your last name. Iona Baillie would be fine but Iona Bell doesn't.

Lillylollylandy · 20/04/2018 12:44

What about Ione

As in the actress Ione Skye

villainousbroodmare · 20/04/2018 12:40

Iona is really lovely. Alice is fine. They do sound awkward to say together imo, though it's not like an everyday issue. Given your reason for using Alice, would you think of throwing in another preceding middle name to make it flow?

CoolCarrie · 20/04/2018 12:38

Both names are lovely, and Iona is a beautiful place.

PinkAvocado · 20/04/2018 12:35

I think it goes well with your surname. Re outing yourself-you can change your MN username after this thread.

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 20/04/2018 12:31

Thanks everyone. I'm still in panic mode about making the right decision. Our surname is Davies, very standard so hopefully not a problem (completely outing myself but I think I'm already outed with revealing our DD1 name anyway!).

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PinkAvocado · 20/04/2018 12:19

Iona is ok but I prefer Alice Iona. I wouldn’t choose Iona because our surname really doesn’t go with it (‘I own a’ is too obvious with it). First and middle names rarely are said together but I do think you need to be more careful with Iona, Hugo, Noah etc as pp said.

Totallytopsecret · 20/04/2018 12:18

Do you have a surname that works with Iona? I went to school with a Iona Dixie

I-Own-A-Dick-See

(her brother was called Piers what on earth were their parents thinking?!)

If you have a surname that works then it's a lovely name.

elQuintoConyo · 20/04/2018 12:15

Lovely, really lovely. And i love her sister's names.

As you said, full names are rarely said aloud. I cannot recall the last time my full name was said aloud - maybe 8 years ago at my wedding? I have a friend called Iona who i have known 30+ years, it never crossed my mind that it sounds like 'i own her'.

justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 12:13

I think its lovely! The names are quite different which would mean she could swap between them if it turned out she didnt like one of them. Iona is quite unusual and Alice is a traditional classic so you have the best of both worlds!

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 20/04/2018 12:10

I think both names are really lovely. But I am biased! I couldn’t use Iona as I’m in Wales and I don’t like the Welsh pronunciation, but love it as I-oh-na. I do think the ‘a’s Together make it very hard to say and Alice Iona would be easier.

Cosmoa · 20/04/2018 10:45

The only thing I would point out is that the two a's next to each other change the name a little. So it could sound like Iona Ralice. Sometimes two vowels together make this r sound in front of the second name.

For example.. My friend was going to be named 'Anna Underwood' but it sounded like 'Anna Runderwood' so they gave her a different first name.

However, it's a very pretty name and people won't be using her middle name often so it wouldn't matter too much. And if pronounced properly/slowly it's avoidable.

RedDwarves · 20/04/2018 10:34

I also read it as "I own a Alice".

Prefer Alice Iona.

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 20/04/2018 10:16

Thanks so much, seems fairly positive. I'm not too worried about the first and middle name flowing perfectly as it's quite rare that full names are spoken, it was more the perception of the name Iona that I was interested to hear.

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Mybabystolemysanity · 19/04/2018 22:22

I like it. It's unusual and a lovely match for her sister.

chezmk1988 · 19/04/2018 22:20

Love it

bridgetreilly · 19/04/2018 22:17

Scottish girls' names that I think work well with Alice:

Elspeth Alice
Eilidh Alice
Iseabail Alice (this is my favourite Scottish girls' name by some way)

bridgetreilly · 19/04/2018 22:12

Iona Alice sounds awkward to me, though I like both names separately and I think they go well with your other daughter's name. I wouldn't worry about the Welsh pronunciation issue, given that you don't live in Wales. It's easily corrected if someone does get it wrong.

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 21:10

Iona will get Yonna from welsh people. It's dated in Wales and usually given to January-born daughters.
Iona (i-own-a) is nice and sounds fairly fresh but it depends on the surname. A famous person whose surname means Hanky has a daughter called Iona.

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 20:56

it does

TatianaLarina · 19/04/2018 20:55

No Iona Alice is much nicer and more original. Alice as a first name is meh.

Iona also goes much better with Eira.

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 20:51

Alice Iona is much nicer.

Frazzled2207 · 19/04/2018 19:59

Like both the names but personally don't think two names which finish then start with a vowel flow very well.

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 19/04/2018 19:52

Thanks for feedback! Not sure how much the 'I own a' issue bugs me... Alice definitely middle name after significant family member who is no longer with us. Alice as first name seems too common vs our DD1 unusual name. Aagh I'm now undecided again!! Confused

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