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Original poster

If I like Iona...

44 replies

BananaCustard85 · 07/02/2021 12:23

Hi there!

Currently pregnant with my first. We've agreed a name for a boy, but haven't agreed a girl's name yet.

I like Iona. It's strong-sounding. I can imagine it as an adult's name. It's not too cutesy or frilly. I like that Iona sounds relatively modern as well - l quite like Diana, but worry that it's old fashioned in a bad way! I am slightly put off by Iona sounding like 'I own a'.

'na' endings not obligatory!

Can anyone suggest similar, strong-sounding names? 🙂 Our surname begins with F and is 3 syllables.

Thank you for your help!

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LindaCartersBun · 07/02/2021 22:44

I like Iona.

Lena
Greta
Esther
Briar
Lois
Nina
Ita
Ines

MintyCedric · 07/02/2021 22:33

Yes exactly like that

Serin · 07/02/2021 22:31

Morganna

Longdistance · 07/02/2021 22:28

Ilona, pronounced Ee-Lon-ah.

esee22 · 07/02/2021 22:23

Lana
Teoni
Rosa
Simone
Leia

partyatthepalace · 07/02/2021 19:49

I love both of those - Diana will be on the rise soon I think

Philippa, Julia, Helena, Marina, Joanna, Estella, Catriona, Fiona, Selena, Genevieve, Rosalind, Meredith, Ione,

Juliancoped · 07/02/2021 19:31

Ione like ione skye

AmIBeingTwatty · 07/02/2021 19:29

Passed him*

AmIBeingTwatty · 07/02/2021 19:28

@BananaCustard85 I have 3 and I didn’t completely decide until they were born. It took us 3 weeks to name DS2.
Fell in a love with a name for both a boy and a girl for DS2 around 22 weeks pregnant and that is his name. The minute they passed it to me I said the name and it just felt right. I can’t imagine any of mine being called anything else.

Original poster
BananaCustard85 · 07/02/2021 19:28

I do like Verity a lot, but wonder if it's a bit of a mouthful with my longish F surname. I think something like Verity Jones would be lovely...

OP posts:
AmIBeingTwatty · 07/02/2021 19:27

Eve
Georgina
Rosa

Tal45 · 07/02/2021 19:25

I love Iona, it's quite unusual and manages to be strong and pretty at the same time x

Original poster
BananaCustard85 · 07/02/2021 19:20

Thanks everyone!

@MintyCedric would you pronounce Ilsa as 'ill-sa'?

Was interested that Iona is pronounced Yonna in Wales. That's pretty.

Loads of food for thought here, great suggestions 🙂

Out of interest, for those of you with kids, how long did it take you to settle on a name for them? Were there names that immediately struck you as being 'right'?

OP posts:
FlamingGreatGalaahs · 07/02/2021 19:15

I also like Estella

SlightlyJaded · 07/02/2021 17:35

Stella

Have always thought it such a strong name. Maybe because 'stellar', but it remains beautiful because as well as being powerful, it conjures up images of space and galaxies.

If I had another DD, she would be Stella.

Quercus3 · 07/02/2021 17:29

Oona
Ingrid
Willa
Ione

MintyCedric · 07/02/2021 17:23

The first name that popped into my head...

Ilsa

Paddingtonthebear · 07/02/2021 17:07

Lara
Elin
Naomi
Lana

FlamingGreatGalaahs · 07/02/2021 15:48

Afua
Eadie
Olivia
Rose
Verity
Charlotte
Aisha
Georgia
Gemma
Faye
Rosa
Seren
Elizabeth
Hannah
Olympia
Sorcha
Goldie

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/02/2021 15:31

Tiana.
Leona
Tiona
Alana
Elena
Sian/a
Cora
Cara
Zara

Rosehassometoes · 07/02/2021 13:48

Anya
Marina
Alisa
Lara
Orla

Nellephant · 07/02/2021 13:47

How about Iris or Ida?

CaffiSaliMali · 07/02/2021 13:46

Iona is also a Welsh name and is pronounced Yonna in Wales (like Donna but with a Y). So there's an alternative pronunciation.

Tess and Tessa are nice and have a similar feel to Beth for me. See also Emma, Kate, Erin, Megan, Ruth and Anna.

I love Morven, Ishbel and Eilidh.

If DH likes Zara and Lara what about Mara? Marisa?

BeanieB2020 · 07/02/2021 13:46

Leona?

FelicityPike · 07/02/2021 13:25

No it’s not odd, my DD has a Welsh name and we’re Scottish...I just wondered.

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