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

What are your thoughts on Iona...

49 replies

KatyAnn28 · 26/11/2012 22:08

...pn eye-oh-nah?

OP posts:
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Hassled · 26/11/2012 22:08

I love it. I think you'd have to be Scottish though - or at least some Scottish ancestry.

beautyguru · 26/11/2012 22:09

Love it, used to look after a beautiful little girl called Iona when I was a nursery nurse and have loved it ever since. So pretty Smile

RancerDoo · 26/11/2012 22:12

Ok, but you have to check it doesn't run into your last name (even if your last name isn't a noun but sounds as if it could be one):

Iona Bentley (see what I mean?)
Iona Mole (adrian's next child)
Iona Biggun (Prob not)

Iona Richardson - fine.

KatyAnn28 · 26/11/2012 22:13

It's not the sort of name I'd normally go for but it caught my eye today and DH and I really like it. I have no scottish ancestry but he does on his side Wink

OP posts:
KatyAnn28 · 26/11/2012 22:14

Hadn't thought of that RancerDoo! Luckily ours would be ok :)

OP posts:
Slainte · 26/11/2012 22:15

Love, love, love it. Strong yet feminine.

baskingseals · 26/11/2012 22:15

i really like Iona. i have one in my family, and always think what a beautiful name it is.

MrsSpencerReid · 26/11/2012 22:16

Love it but had to discount it due to our surname, think 'Iona Chair' Grin

BikeRunSki · 26/11/2012 22:18

Love it.
Go on holiday to Iona, have a lovely time and then you'll have connections with it!

SurreyWithAFringeOnTop · 26/11/2012 22:18

Being Welsh, I would pronounce it Yona - the Scottish pronunciation sounds really weird to me, though I do like it. But unless you live in Wales then this would not be an issue for you!

SomersetONeil · 26/11/2012 22:49

Beautiful name - classic, strong, elegant and that rare thing when it comes to names: timeless. You'd never know how old an Iona is. :)

I don't think you need a Scottish connection for Iona any more than you would for Isla or Isobel.

Go for it.

StepfordWannabe · 26/11/2012 22:55

Is it not an island off GB somewhere? I don't like place-names as names IYSWIM, it would be like calling a child Guernsey or Shetland or Achill. If it wasn't an actual place, it would be very pretty - not a very helpful comment I know!

ConfusedandBemused · 26/11/2012 22:56

Really beautiful

tudorrose · 26/11/2012 23:03

I have one! I love love love it, mine is feisty, strong willed and beautiful, (think Merida in Brave) and her name suits her perfectly. Its a fab name.

Go for it!

pictish · 26/11/2012 23:05

It's gorgeous. But then I am an Iona. Wink

LittlemissChristmas · 27/11/2012 08:01

I love it Smile

persephoneplum · 27/11/2012 08:29

I like it a lot but I prefer Io and Ione.

EugenesAxe · 27/11/2012 08:33

Scottish Island? I like it as a name.

MolotovCocktail · 27/11/2012 08:55

Its gorgeous. For some reason, it makes me think of the sunrise. I also like Iola (eye-oh-la) and Isla/Ayla.

Felicitywascold · 27/11/2012 08:58

It's gorgeous, timeless and classic.

But teaching one with a noun surname did put me off rather think - 'Iona Ball'

hjtunny · 27/11/2012 18:17

I've just added it to my list, very pretty!

BikeRunSki · 27/11/2012 19:24

It is a Scttish Island, in the Inner Hebredies off the west coast of Scotland. It is beautiful, and is important in the history of early Christianity in Britain.

phlebas · 27/11/2012 21:09

I love it too, though the 'Iona's I know also pronounce it Yona so that would be my initial expectation :)

Rhubarbgarden · 27/11/2012 21:20

Pretty

WeaselSoup · 27/11/2012 21:25

I absolutely love it! It is definitely one of my favourite names.

Sorry for the hijack OP, but while we're on the subject of the name, do y'all think it would work with my surname, which is Pugh? Does Iona Pugh work?