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Baby names

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Original poster

Iona - feedback from those who have the name or know someone with it

105 replies

Babanynamehelp2025 · 04/06/2025 14:37

Hi,

We are seriously considering the name Iona for a baby girl, but have two potential concerns that I would love feedback on, especially from people with the name, or who know people with the name (especially if you used it for your daughter!).

  1. Are there a lot of pronunciation issues, and if so how bad / annoying are these? We would pronounce it the Scottish way (eye-own-a). My guess is that there wouldn’t be that many pronunciation issues in the UK but that there might be abroad. Is that the case and if so, how big an issue have you found that to be?
  2. Even though it is short in terms of number of letters, it feels like it might be a bit of a mouthful to always use the full name. Have you found this and if so, what nicknames have you used? We like “Io” but it seems more appropriate for a teenager or adult than a baby and I’m struggling to think of any reasonable alternatives

Any general feedback on the name, especially on whether you like it and any other things worth considering also very welcome!!

For a bit more context, we have Scottish family so it feels appropriate for us to use it, and it works with our surname (i.e. our surname isn’t a noun). We are also aware that the name is pronounced differently in Wales.

Thanks so much for any inputs

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SlenderRations · 04/06/2025 14:45

Can't think how else one would pronounce it. Lovely name. Doesn't really feel like it's whole three syllables in the mouth, iyswim. Go for it.

Crispyturtle · 04/06/2025 14:44

I’ve got a relative with the name, never heard anyone struggle with pronunciation and never heard anyone make any unkind comments. I think it’s a beautiful name and we seriously considered it for our daughter, we only discounted it because of said family member with the same name.

Talipesmum · 04/06/2025 14:41

I’ve got a teen cousin with the name. It’s a really lovely name, everyone pronounces it the way you’ve said (I’m not sure how else it would be pronounced? Not heard any other variants). It doesn’t seem long to say. Can’t answer all your questions but just to say it’s a lovely name.

MoreChocPls · 04/06/2025 14:40

Cruise ship name!

WearyAuldWumman · 04/06/2025 14:39

Retired Scottish secondary school teacher here. Caution advised.

I recall some of my little cherubs giggling over the supposed fact that they'd had a schoolmate at primary whose surname was Dick. [Yes, she was an Iona.]

ETA I do think that it's a beautiful name, but kids can be horrible.