What does Iona mean?
Iona is the name of a sacred Hebridean island, a cradle of Celtic Christianity.
What does Isla mean?
From the Scottish island and river Islay; taken as “island.”
Iona vs Isla
Which is more popular?
Isla is more popular than Iona today: about 6,012 US babies were given the name Isla in 2025, compared with 65 named Iona.
| Iona | Isla | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Island | Island |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eye-OH-nah | EYE-luh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1886 |
| Peak year | 1918 (404) | 2025 (6,012) |
| In 2025 | 65 | 6,012 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Iona
Isla
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Iona | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 376 | 32,186 |
| 2010s | 543 | 22,864 |
| 2000s | 305 | 1,925 |
| 1990s | 126 | 144 |
| 1980s | 139 | 55 |
| 1970s | 198 | 26 |
| 1960s | 290 | 20 |
| 1950s | 610 | 33 |
| 1940s | 887 | 95 |
| 1930s | 1,747 | 182 |
| 1920s | 3,151 | 269 |
| 1910s | 2,362 | 244 |
| 1900s | 838 | 112 |
| 1890s | 455 | 74 |
| 1880s | 224 | 23 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Iona or Isla more popular?
Isla is more popular than Iona today: about 6,012 US babies were given the name Isla in 2025, compared with 65 named Iona.
What is the difference between Iona and Isla?
Iona means Island (Scottish origin), while Isla means Island (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Iona or Isla?
In US records, Iona first appears in 1880 and Isla in 1886, so Iona has the longer recorded history.