Does everyone hate [name]Iola[/name] as much as the Nameberry blurb does?
I really like it actually. [name]Isla[/name] is VERY popular here in [name]Oz[/name], as is [name]Ivy[/name], - [name]Isla[/name] is #22 in this state and [name]Ivy[/name] is #32. But [name]Iola[/name] is not at all, and yet is simple and pretty much like it looks (eye-oh-la).
I like that it means “violet” as they’re a flower I really like. I don’t think [name]Iola[/name] looks TOO crazy or outlandish?
My husband does not like [name]Isla[/name] in any case and has vetoed it, as he says “everyone and their dog is naming their baby after [name]Isla[/name] [name]Fisher[/name].” He likes that [name]Iola[/name] could be nicknamed [name]Lola[/name] - which is a name I would never use as the legal name but I don’t hate as a nickname.
I know its old-fashioned but as far as I know it was never super popular so I wonder if it could be dusted off and reclaimed for babies?
Our last name doesn’t work well with -eeee sound endings so [name]Ianthe[/name], [name]Iolanthe[/name], [name]Ione[/name], [name]Iole[/name], etc. do not really work for us and I think [name]Ianthe[/name]/[name]Iolanthe[/name] are a bit complicated as well as obscure and if I’m going obscure I think [name]Iola[/name] has the edge for being simple?
Or am I being crazy and should go back to [name]Ivy[/name], [name]Claire[/name], and Assorted Names People Have Heard Of?
Eye [name]OLE[/name] uh is kind of grating, as is [name]Viola[/name] vye-OH-luh. It’s just not that attractive to my ears. [name]Lola[/name] is sweet, lighter.
I think the name could certainly work just fine, I just don’t really like it.
Not bad…I do like it more than [name]Isla[/name]! But I see it as [name]Lola[/name] in lower case letters! And I vastly prefer more familiar [name]Viola[/name] or [name]Ivana[/name] both have more substance & less airiness imo.
I feel like it’s more doable since you are in [name]Oz[/name]. People are less likely to know about [name]Carol[/name] [name]Burnett[/name]'s [name]Iola[/name] (I didn’t even though I’m in [name]North[/name] [name]America[/name] -it’s an old show!) and it’s cute! You would likely have to educate people on the pronunciation and/or spelling at first though since it’s not common. When I hear the name, I think of a lovely, elderly lady who lived at the retirement home where I worked 20 odd years ago.
Have you come across the name [name]Iolana[/name]? It’s Hawaian… NB seems to give it a more positive vibe & it has a nice meaning too.
I like it-- especially if the stress is placed on the firt syllable, to sound like [name]Violet[/name]-- EYE-oh-la. But I do think it will be constantly confused with [name]Lola[/name] and [name]Isla[/name]; in fact when I opened the thred I didn’t know if you had simply not capitalized [name]Lola[/name] (lola and [name]Iola[/name] look near-identical).
I remember from other threads you’re looking for a rare botanical, right? I do like the Eastern European feminine form of [name]John[/name], [name]Ionna[/name], (prn yah-na or yo-ah-na). Similar:
[name]Violetta[/name]
Virelai (a form of medieval French verse)
Vissia (an Italian noblewoman)
Vola (from the Latin ‘to fly,’ a silent film star)
[name]Vered[/name] (modern Israeli name meaning rose)
I thought that you at first just hadn’t capitalized [name]Lola[/name]! I think they would be confused a lot in written form. I’m not really a fan of it, but I don’t think it’s crazy weird. I do prefer [name]Isla[/name] though, even though it is very popular.
I’m surprised to see this name on here! My grandmother’s name was [name]Iola[/name] [name]Marguerite[/name] and I’d use either as a family name for her. It’s an older name, so pretty dated. Also might get confused as [name]Isla[/name] or [name]Lola[/name], but since they’re both used pretty often now and it’s similar it might make a comeback. If you have other names you like I’d say use it as a mn. If you don’t I’d use it as a fn. People would get used to it. If you really love it, I’d say go for it! And older names are coming back into use, so whose to say this one wont!!
Thanks for the input, everyone. [name]Even[/name] negative ones are quite helpful.
[name]Ah[/name], well, I love [name]Viola[/name] from way back. So I guess I am odd.
[name]Lola[/name] is sweet as a nickname and I’d be fine with [name]Iola[/name] NN [name]Lola[/name], but it’s a bit too sugary for me as a legal first name. I sort of have it in a box with [name]Dolly[/name] and so on.
[name]Lovely[/name] names taken in themselves, but not with the last name M0r0ney, sorry! eye-oh-nee more-oh-nee would never forgive the cruel mother who did that!
I always find myself drawn to botanicals but the I thing is also an issue. I’d love to use an I name or an R name for family honouring reasons. If not for that, I might have stuck with [name]Viola[/name].
Sorry, I’m not sure but is that first syllable EE or EYE? I thought one thing [name]Iola[/name] had in its favour was the EYE pronunciation is one people might guess instinctively - I do love a number of I names that start with an ee- sound, like [name]Inez[/name] and [name]Iliana[/name], but I thought they’d get said wrong and EYE might be easier?
I also initially thought this said “[name]Lola[/name]”.
[name]Iola[/name] is all right, though I prefer it “Ee-oh-la” versus “Eye-ola”. I’m a big fan of [name]Viola[/name], but “Vee-oh-la” instead of “Vye-ola”
Oh, I love [name]Viola[/name], but only pronounced VYE uh luh. (like [name]Violet[/name] ending in a, rather than et). Vee-OH-luh is just ok, but vie-[name]OLE[/name]-uh grates. If [name]Iola[/name] was EYE-uh-luh, then it’s light and pretty. I just think people will say eye-[name]OLE[/name]-luh. I thought that was the pronunciation.
And, I agree that [name]Lola[/name] is nickname only territory.