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