[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] is DH’s maternal grandmother and I think we like it more as a middle name as it comes off too “girly” to me.
[name_f]Iola[/name_f] is a family name, but “dated beyond redemption” according to nameberry. Another issue is that my mother goes by [name_f]Iola[/name_f] with family. So, there’s the possibility she’ll be “[name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_f]Iola[/name_f]”
[name_f]Iona[/name_f] seems to be an easy variant, provides her with her own name, and (to me) feels more current. I also really like the history/island of [name_f]Iona[/name_f] (although no personal connection there other than Irish ancestry). The downside appears to be that [name_f]Iona[/name_f] is more open to teasing.
Is [name_f]Iola[/name_f]/[name_f]Iona[/name_f] a first name that you’re dead-set on? You could try [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] or [name_f]Viola[/name_f]? Maybe some variant like that if you’re worried about teasing or the name being outdated.
Also, [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] is definitely not a contender for first name?
[name_f]Iona[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] is beautiful and I can’t understand why she would get teased, but I come from Australia so maybe that makes a difference? [name_f]Ilona[/name_f] is a similar Name which I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] and I think it means Beautiful, but will have to check! [name_f]Ilona[/name_f] has the Nickname [name_u]Lonny[/name_u] too. If you use [name_f]Iona[/name_f] would you need a Nickname? Maybe you could call her [name_f]Rose[/name_f] from her Middle Name? All the very best!
According to Wikipedia “[name_f]Ilona[/name_f] is a Hungarian female given name, the traditional name of the [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of the Fairies in Magyar folklore. Its etymology is uncertain. A common myth is that [name_f]Ilona[/name_f] is cognate with the Greek given name [name_f]Helen[/name_f].”
By the way, the two Ilonas I know pronounce it with a short i, as in “intelligent”, not a long I, as in “Iceland”.
OllieOllie’s suggestion of [name_f]Ionie[/name_f] is GORGEOUS!
I think we do prefer leaving [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] as a middle name, but are thinking [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] would be a great nn for a little girl and family does have a history of calling folks by their middle names.
This is the issue with [name_f]Iona[/name_f]: And the Worst Bad Name Is . . . - The New York Times. I have a noun last name that it would be problematic with (not as bad as knipl), but baby will have her dad’s last name, which is not a noun, and possibly my last name as a second middle.
I think [name_f]Iola[/name_f] is lovely! “Dated beyond redemption” might just mean it hasn’t been discovered and skyrocketed like [name_f]Isla[/name_f], which is not a bad thing (at least to me). I love that it’s a family name and the connection to your mother is so special. That being said, I don’t think [name_f]Iona[/name_f] is especially problematic for teasing - I couldn’t even figure out what the teasing would be about. [name_m]Even[/name_m] after reading the article, I still don’t think it’s a problem.
What about just [name_f]Io[/name_f]? It has a cool mythological/celestial meaning, and in general is cool as a 2-letter yet substantial name. I like the suggestion of putting a “V” in front to get [name_f]Viola[/name_f] as well. Both of those seem just as close to [name_f]Iola[/name_f] as [name_f]Iona[/name_f]. There’s also [name_f]Ionia[/name_f] to escape the pun potential.
I love [name_f]Iona[/name_f], and [name_f]Iona[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] is gorgeous! I would probably use [name_f]Io[/name_f] or [name_f]Aya[/name_f] as a nn–a bit of a stretch, but not too much, and I think they’re both cute as a button!
I like [name_f]Iola[/name_f], too, and find it more fresh than “dated beyond redemption”, lol. Take Nameberry’s descriptions with a grain of salt. Is the teasing with [name_f]Iona[/name_f] as in “I own a…”? That’s the only thing I can think of, and that seems pretty lame to me. Either would be darling, but my vote goes to [name_f]Iona[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]!
Have you considered [name_f]Ione[/name_f]? I prefer [name_f]Iona[/name_f] to [name_f]Iola[/name_f] (trivia note about [name_f]Iola[/name_f]: She was [name_m]Joe[/name_m] [name_m]Hardy[/name_m]'s girlfriend & [name_m]Chet[/name_m] [name_m]Morton[/name_m]'s sister in the [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] Boys series).
I’m going to go against the grain and say I prefer [name_f]Iola[/name_f]! I feel like it fits well with current popular names like [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] etc, so definitely doesn’t seem outdated beyond comeback!
[name_f]Iona[/name_f] doesn’t feel any more current than [name_f]Iola[/name_f] to me; both are unusual and unused enough that they don’t feel either particularly dated or modern, not tied to any time period at all. Both are lovely, sweet and unexpected. I would choose [name_f]Iona[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] since it flows better than [name_f]Iola[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f], which repeats the L sound as well as the O and A sounds. I wouldn’t worry about teasing with [name_f]Iona[/name_f]- I’d never noticed or thought of anything and even after you mentioned it it took me awhile to figure out what it could be.
My mom’s nn from [name_f]Iola[/name_f] is just “I” and my husband is fond of “[name_f]Io[/name_f]” because of the mythological history, but I love the “[name_f]Aya[/name_f]” suggestion!
[name_f]Iona[/name_f]. It is more melodic to say than [name_f]Iola[/name_f]. And [name_f]Iola[/name_f] reminds me of “areola” to be frank. But [name_f]Iona[/name_f] is jut absolutely gorgeous and unique!
Is the teasing with [name_f]Iona[/name_f] as in “I own a…”? That’s the only thing I can think of, and that seems pretty lame to me.