What does Ailsa mean?
Ailsa comes from Ailsa Craig, an island rock, and is linked to “elf” and “victory.”
What does Iona mean?
Iona is the name of a sacred Hebridean island, a cradle of Celtic Christianity.
Ailsa vs Iona
Which is more popular?
Iona is more popular than Ailsa today: about 65 US babies were given the name Iona in 2025, compared with 0 named Ailsa.
| Ailsa | Iona | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf victory | Island |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AYL-sah | eye-OH-nah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1918 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2003 (19) | 1918 (404) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 65 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ailsa
Iona
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ailsa | Iona |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 25 | 376 |
| 2010s | 121 | 543 |
| 2000s | 123 | 305 |
| 1990s | 112 | 126 |
| 1980s | 45 | 139 |
| 1970s | 80 | 198 |
| 1960s | 6 | 290 |
| 1950s | 0 | 610 |
| 1940s | 0 | 887 |
| 1930s | 0 | 1,747 |
| 1920s | 21 | 3,151 |
| 1910s | 5 | 2,362 |
| 1900s | 0 | 838 |
| 1890s | 0 | 455 |
| 1880s | 0 | 224 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ailsa or Iona more popular?
Iona is more popular than Ailsa today: about 65 US babies were given the name Iona in 2025, compared with 0 named Ailsa.
What is the difference between Ailsa and Iona?
Ailsa means Elf victory (Scottish origin), while Iona means Island (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Ailsa or Iona?
In US records, Ailsa first appears in 1918 and Iona in 1880, so Iona has the longer recorded history.