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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Talk to me about Iona

22 replies

LaTristesse · 07/12/2011 12:15

We both love the name but our surname is a noun, and the middle name we've decided on is an adjective! As it would read it does sound fab, but I'm concerned that if she married a guy with a more unforgiving noun surname she could be in trouble (think Iona Bush, Iona Parrott etc...)

What do you think? Do you know any Iona's with name issues? Should we avoid it?

OP posts:

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tabulahrasa · 07/12/2011 12:20

If I was marrying someone who had the last name of bush or parrot, I think I'd keep my last name whether my name was Iona or not, lol.

I live Iona for what it's worth

tabulahrasa · 07/12/2011 12:20

Love, not live, rofl

pictish · 07/12/2011 12:20

I know an Iona. It's a brilliant name. All the time growing up, people used to ask her name then when she told them, they'd say 'what do you own?'. She heard this many times and she found it tedious.
However, she grew up to really like her own name in the end.

Sparklingbaubles · 07/12/2011 12:21

I really like Iona. I also like Ilona.

pictish · 07/12/2011 12:22

P.s - The Iona is me!

voituredepompier · 07/12/2011 12:24

It's alovely name and could be pronounced the Welsh way as in 'yonna'

missmuddle · 07/12/2011 12:27

very unusual - I have only ever met one Iona, at primary school in the 70s I love the name FWIW

SarahSlaughter · 07/12/2011 13:04

I know quite a few Ionas and it wouldn't have occurred to me to think of it as "I own a"... I'm in Scotland so I don't know if that makes a difference to perception of the name. It's just a very pretty Island off Mull (with v cute puffins) as far as I'm concerned...

Iona Puffin would be a great name...

It's a lovely name go for it.

My parents gave me a very nice name, not in any way funny, until it was combined with my married name when it became a little amusing. It's not a problem - I like making people smile!

MamaLazarou · 07/12/2011 15:03

There's an Iona at a playgroup we go to, and she gets called 'Io' (eye-oh), which sounds really ugly and clunky IMHO.

AberdeenAngusina · 07/12/2011 15:26

Iona is lovely, but if the middle name is an adjective it could sound odd. I assume the middle name is something like Scarlett? Iona Scarlett Surname does sound like the start of a sentence in a way that, e.g. Iona Katie Surname doesn't.

manicinsomniac · 07/12/2011 23:33

So, the name would make a sentence? (eg, Iona Scarlett Carr ?) I think that could be a little tough to deal with. On the other hand, depending on the child's personality, she might find it funny and really like it.

I know a 4 year old Iona but she has no problems with her other names.

Nice name though.

Original poster

LaTristesse · 08/12/2011 11:16

Thanks for the replies ladies; I don't think I was expecting such a positive response! In light of this we're definitely going to add it to the shortlist!

OP posts:

bridgingtheabyss · 09/12/2011 18:32

What about Iola as an alternative?

MitroChristmasEve · 09/12/2011 19:01

If you know any school-age kids ask them if "I own a yoursurname" is a funny name. If they look a bit puzzled then your DD will probably be okay, if the kids rofl - that's your answer.

Isla is a beautiful name too!

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 09/12/2011 19:04

Iona is a luffly name. The only one I know is in her 30s - and fwiw she is utterly gorgeous.

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 09/12/2011 19:12

Beautiful name - will be on my short-list if we have another.

WhoIsThatMaskedWoman · 09/12/2011 19:21

Lovely name. And she'll be the first in her nursery to be able to write her own name, because it's nice and short and I and o are the easiest letters to write.

littlepie · 09/12/2011 20:38

I used to teach an Iona with a surname that made for very comical reading However, it never seemed to be an issue for her and I never heard any other kids mention it.

It is a lovely name and she may like the "funness" of the middle and surname?

Coconutty · 09/12/2011 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrackerHatsandStetsonsAreCool · 09/12/2011 22:35

I love Iona, but I can't get past the 'I own her' thing (the -a comes out more -er in my accent I think)

But it looks like I'm in the minority so I say go for it

gaunyerseljeannie · 09/12/2011 22:49

Iola is pronounced as Eye-la (Isla) where I live so it isn't really like Iona, which does avoid the er sound if you are Scots.
Its a lovely name and a lovely place.

lottiegb · 11/12/2011 14:41

It's a lovely little island off Mull, with a monastery, interesting religious community and seabirds. I'd imagine you'd been there and loved it or had some sort of romantic association with the Scottish west coast and islands.

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