What does Iona mean?
Iona is the name of a sacred Hebridean island, a cradle of Celtic Christianity.
What does Skye mean?
Skye takes its name from the Isle of Skye, and echoes the English word “sky.”
Iona vs Skye
Which is more popular?
Skye is more popular than Iona today: about 569 US babies were given the name Skye in 2025, compared with 65 named Iona.
| Iona | Skye | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Island | Isle of Skye; sky |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eye-OH-nah | SKY |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1952 |
| Peak year | 1918 (404) | 2014 (887) |
| In 2025 | 65 | 569 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Iona
Skye
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Iona | Skye |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 376 | 4,061 |
| 2010s | 543 | 7,453 |
| 2000s | 305 | 6,708 |
| 1990s | 126 | 3,852 |
| 1980s | 139 | 1,440 |
| 1970s | 198 | 635 |
| 1960s | 290 | 56 |
| 1950s | 610 | 57 |
| 1940s | 887 | 0 |
| 1930s | 1,747 | 0 |
| 1920s | 3,151 | 0 |
| 1910s | 2,362 | 0 |
| 1900s | 838 | 0 |
| 1890s | 455 | 0 |
| 1880s | 224 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Iona or Skye more popular?
Skye is more popular than Iona today: about 569 US babies were given the name Skye in 2025, compared with 65 named Iona.
What is the difference between Iona and Skye?
Iona means Island (Scottish origin), while Skye means Isle of Skye; sky (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Iona or Skye?
In US records, Iona first appears in 1880 and Skye in 1952, so Iona has the longer recorded history.