Iola
Girl nameIola has been given to 9,659 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1918.
Meaning & origin
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἴον (íon, “violet”), evoking the flower's symbolism of modesty and beauty.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
9,659
Peak year
1918 (368 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
▼ -36%
Gender split
All girls
Rank through the decades
Iola's rank among U.S. girl names at 25-year milestones.
| Year | Girls rank |
|---|---|
| 1900 | #393 |
| 1925 | #437 |
— means outside the top 1000 that year.
Spellings & variants
Names one letter away from Iola — alternate spellings parents actually use.
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Iola.
FAQ
How popular is the name Iola?
Iola has been given to 9,659 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Iola peak?
Iola peaked in 1918, when 368 babies were given the name.
Is Iola a girl or boy name?
Iola is primarily a girl name (100% of babies named Iola are girls).
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