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Baby names

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

Original poster

Iona Alice

34 replies

Scottishgirl85 · 19/04/2018 11:02

This forum has helped us so much to narrow down our name list for our little girl who is due in 6 days, thank you. This will be my last thread, promise! 😁
What is your reaction to Iona Alice (pronounced eye-oh-na)? I'm Scottish and set on a Scottish name. We live in SE England. DD1 is called Eira Hope (Welsh connection on husband's side). Thank you!!

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Smeaton · 19/04/2018 11:05

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/04/2018 11:29

I wouldn't put any middle names with names such as Juno Hugo Noah and Iona
for reasons pp has said.
It doesn't flow perfectly but it would be okay the other way around Alice Iona

gwen25 · 19/04/2018 11:58

I prefer Alice Iona. Iona is a very nice Scottish name, but it doesn't sound great as a first name IMO

Snowhite12 · 19/04/2018 12:57

I’m also part Scottish with a Welsh OH, living in SE!
I love Iona and want to use it as a middle name.
DH’s family will pronounce it the Welsh way though, ‘yon-a’, which would get confusing if that was her main name. Also the Welsh meaning - January - isn’t really relevant for a May baby!

I guess Iona and Alice don’t flow too well together because of both of the ‘a’ sounds, but it’s not that often you hear both names together, so might not matter.

Naberes · 19/04/2018 13:07

I really like it! Iona is beautiful.

MrsMarigold · 19/04/2018 13:19

Love it

BringMeCoffeePlease · 19/04/2018 13:23

I love it

TatianaLarina · 19/04/2018 14:56

Love Iona but I might choose a middle name with starting with a consonant - easier to say.

Iona Clair
Iona Kate
Iona Grace etc

Ilovewillow · 19/04/2018 15:04

Lovely - my niece is an Iona and I've always thought it pretty but would sounds lovely at any age! Best wishes

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 19/04/2018 19:52

Thanks for feedback! Not sure how much the 'I own a' issue bugs me... Alice definitely middle name after significant family member who is no longer with us. Alice as first name seems too common vs our DD1 unusual name. Aagh I'm now undecided again!! Confused

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 19/04/2018 19:59

Like both the names but personally don't think two names which finish then start with a vowel flow very well.

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 20:51

Alice Iona is much nicer.

TatianaLarina · 19/04/2018 20:55

No Iona Alice is much nicer and more original. Alice as a first name is meh.

Iona also goes much better with Eira.

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 20:56

it does

MikeUniformMike · 19/04/2018 21:10

Iona will get Yonna from welsh people. It's dated in Wales and usually given to January-born daughters.
Iona (i-own-a) is nice and sounds fairly fresh but it depends on the surname. A famous person whose surname means Hanky has a daughter called Iona.

bridgetreilly · 19/04/2018 22:12

Iona Alice sounds awkward to me, though I like both names separately and I think they go well with your other daughter's name. I wouldn't worry about the Welsh pronunciation issue, given that you don't live in Wales. It's easily corrected if someone does get it wrong.

bridgetreilly · 19/04/2018 22:17

Scottish girls' names that I think work well with Alice:

Elspeth Alice
Eilidh Alice
Iseabail Alice (this is my favourite Scottish girls' name by some way)

chezmk1988 · 19/04/2018 22:20

Love it

Mybabystolemysanity · 19/04/2018 22:22

I like it. It's unusual and a lovely match for her sister.

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 20/04/2018 10:16

Thanks so much, seems fairly positive. I'm not too worried about the first and middle name flowing perfectly as it's quite rare that full names are spoken, it was more the perception of the name Iona that I was interested to hear.

OP posts:
RedDwarves · 20/04/2018 10:34

I also read it as "I own a Alice".

Prefer Alice Iona.

Cosmoa · 20/04/2018 10:45

The only thing I would point out is that the two a's next to each other change the name a little. So it could sound like Iona Ralice. Sometimes two vowels together make this r sound in front of the second name.

For example.. My friend was going to be named 'Anna Underwood' but it sounded like 'Anna Runderwood' so they gave her a different first name.

However, it's a very pretty name and people won't be using her middle name often so it wouldn't matter too much. And if pronounced properly/slowly it's avoidable.

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 20/04/2018 12:10

I think both names are really lovely. But I am biased! I couldn’t use Iona as I’m in Wales and I don’t like the Welsh pronunciation, but love it as I-oh-na. I do think the ‘a’s Together make it very hard to say and Alice Iona would be easier.

justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 12:13

I think its lovely! The names are quite different which would mean she could swap between them if it turned out she didnt like one of them. Iona is quite unusual and Alice is a traditional classic so you have the best of both worlds!

elQuintoConyo · 20/04/2018 12:15

Lovely, really lovely. And i love her sister's names.

As you said, full names are rarely said aloud. I cannot recall the last time my full name was said aloud - maybe 8 years ago at my wedding? I have a friend called Iona who i have known 30+ years, it never crossed my mind that it sounds like 'i own her'.