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