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

[Babanynamehelp2025]

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

I’m in Scotland and in my 50’s and was a common name when I was at school.
It seems to have came round again as I’m hearing a few babies with the name.
I can’t imagine anyone would have difficulty pronouncing it.
As for the obvious I own a ??? nickname children will make up try most random names so I wouldn’t let that put you off

I don't get the cruise ship reference at all. For me it's a Scottish island. Girl opposite is called Iona. Scottish mum. It's unusual in England but there are so many different names these days. I think it's lovely.

I know well a little girl called Iona and her mum. Never had any pronunciation issue, never shortened. Lovely name.

She would be a Yonna to me. I wasn't aware of the Scottish pronounciation until I was in my 30s (I'm Welsh.) Having said that, it's a lovely name either way.

Love the username @TasWair .

Our daughter is called Iona. She's 7 now and we get SO many lovely comments on her name. It's never, ever been mispronounced (we live in SE England, home counties). No nickname outside home. But we do sometimes call her Io (or Io bio for some reason!) at home. We absolutely love it. My family live on the Isle of Mull, so the Isle of Iona has special connections. Go for it!!

Lovely.

I work with an Iona. First time I’d ever heard it. I think it’s a beautiful name

I'm an Iona.

People usually tell me it's a lovely name. I like it well enough myself.

I love it, it was top of my name list for girls.

Others on my list were Alba and Orla. My friend has an Alvina, shortened to Alvie which I also adore.

I love it and don't think it needs a nn at all. Don't like Yonna pronunciation at all though.

@tina,I think the Welsh version is OK but I'd expect a Iona to be born in January in the 1960s or earlier.

Makes me think of P&O and their biggest/newest cruise ship

I'm Scottish but live in south England. There's a 6 year old Iona in my child's class. I grew up with a few Ionas - never known any to shorten it. It's a lovely name.

I had a relative called Alvina - not a name you hear often 🥰

It’s quite a common name in Scotland. I’m assuming you’re not Scottish or living in Scotland? - I don’t think you’d have these reservations if you were. Confused about the cruise ship comments. Really do that many people know what all the cruise ships are called?

I can only associate the name with that really irritating TV advert for websites.

Lovely name! I have taught about 4 or 5 Ionas over the years. I doubt there would be any issues with pronunciation.

I used to work with a Welsh lady called Iona. She pronounced her name Yonna. Never met anybody else with that name.

I’d think ‘yonna’ too (Welsh) but would only need to be told once and would swap to the Scottish pronunciation, it’s a lovely name

My dentist is an Iona and the only one I know. I think it's lovely and not used too often. I can't think of too many ways it could be shortened or nicknames which is something DH and I were looking for when picking out baby names so that's a positive for me. Cruise ship reference also means nothing to me if that helps.

Beautiful name, never heard it mispronounced. Very traditionally Scottish. Hope you decide to go ahead.

I’m in Scotland and teach two Ionas in the same class, both lovely girls. I hadn’t heard the cruise ship reference, it just makes me think of the isles.

It's a beautiful name. I know one 5 year old Iona . I don't think it is difficult to pronounce I have only heard people pronounce it the way you say you pronounce it.
I don't think it is a mouthful to use the full name many people don't use nicknames .
Don't overthink it. Whatever name you choose there will be someone who doesn't like it or who will see problems with it.

I have never heard of the cruise ship And I doubt many other people will have either.
If I think of anything it's the Scottish island,