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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nina or Iona

88 replies

Peridotty · 08/05/2020 18:06

Currently 37 weeks pregnant! Which one is better? A couple of people have said Iona is a bit of a mouthful or don’t know how to pronounce it. Three people thought it was Loner! I like both but maybe Nina more because it is short and sweet. Husband prefers Iona. Thank you.

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Mumoftwoyoungkids · 09/05/2020 00:24

Are you pronouncing Iona as Eye-Ona or Yona?

I really like Yona (which I think is the Welsh way.)

Liddell · 09/05/2020 00:20

I prefer Iona.

z0fl0ra · 09/05/2020 00:19

I like Iona but prefer Ione but it’s a shame the capital I doesn’t naturally have the top and bottom lines (iyswim) because it looks much less like a lower case L

BikeRunSki · 09/05/2020 00:01

Iona is far prettier

Staffori · 08/05/2020 23:56

Like both. I know two Ninas, one in her seventies, one in her sixties. Never met an Iona although I've lived in Scotland. I think I prefer Iona but only just.

123Dancewithme · 08/05/2020 22:02

I prefer Nina

Which goes better with your surname? Will she have a middle name?

inwood · 08/05/2020 21:38

Love them both but if I had to choose Iona.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/05/2020 20:39

Love both, Iona pips it.

Pemba · 08/05/2020 20:38

Hannah, you can't imagine a 30+ Nina seriously? Tell that to Nina Simone, Nina Bawden etc. It's a very grown up name. Lovely.

Iona the island is a lovely place, as a girls' name it is fine, but not sure if it works as well as Nina. Then there is the whole 'I own a' thing.

Ninkanink · 08/05/2020 20:37

Iona.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 08/05/2020 20:36

Nina.

Peachbubble · 08/05/2020 20:06

Definitely prefer Iona

pinkpinecone · 08/05/2020 20:03

Prefer Nina.

Iona is nice but tricky if your surname is any kind of noun.

MikeUniformMike · 08/05/2020 19:42

Oh, if your surname is a brand, don't use Iona. Google your surname if in doubt.

MikeUniformMike · 08/05/2020 19:41

Iona is quite long for just four letters.
The first Nina I met was in her 20s and it was many years ago. I thought it was a cool name.

I'd pick Nina, but both are very pretty.

avroroad · 08/05/2020 19:40

Niona?

PrincessLouis · 08/05/2020 19:31

Nina - it’s gorgeous. Love author Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War) too. I don’t know how to pronounce Iona. Eye-oh-nah?

LaMarschallin · 08/05/2020 19:13

Peridotty

Definitely think that pronunciation is prettier.
DD has a friend called "Iona" and she gets called "Yonz" as a nickname.
Not sure if that's a good or bad thing - just putting it out there Smile

Original poster
Peridotty · 08/05/2020 19:10

Yup surname works ! Not a noun Grin

@lamarshallin I would pronounce it Neena.

OP posts:
LaMarschallin · 08/05/2020 19:08

Would "Nina" be pronounced "Niner" or "Neena"?

Used to know a "Niner" in Wales a long time ago so always assumed it was that, but recently heard someone saying "Neena".

diddlediddle · 08/05/2020 19:06

What @MikeUniformMike said. Both are nice but if surname allows, love Iona.

MikeUniformMike · 08/05/2020 19:04

Depends on your surname.

amber763 · 08/05/2020 18:59

Iona is beautiful

Whatsyourflava · 08/05/2020 18:50

I've looked at the official statistics now. Nina's numbers have been on a plateau year on year since 2015/2016 so doesn't appear to be about to explode in popularity

Whatsyourflava · 08/05/2020 18:48

Love both

@emmathedilemmma good points! I'd also look at the official statistics though OP rather than putting too much emphasis on how often a name appears on Mumsnet. Names like Willa and Clarence and Barbara are mentioned on here a fair bit. In the "real world" all three names are practically extinct