Iola

eye-OH-lah (Greek), YO-la (Welsh)

Greek or Welsh

"violet; beautiful lady"

Iola Origin and Meaning

The name Iola is a girl's name of Spanish, Greek origin meaning "violet; beautiful lady".

Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that should be ripe for rediscovery.

Iola Rank in US Top 1000

# 831 in the US

Popularity of the name Iola

• 1886 Nameberry 2025

20 Names Similar to Iola

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Iola.

• Avonlea
• Lorelle
• Tova
• Vienne
• Maelys
• Celie
• Zelie
• Ora
• Odeya
• Eyre
• Ismay
• Jessamy
• Gioia
• Vianne
• Caris
• Toula
• Croía
• Viviette
• Fianna
• Torvi

The name Iola in Pop Culture

• Iola Morton character from the Hardy Boys book series
• Iola Leroy (1892) one of the first novels by an African,American woman – Frances Harper
• Iola \YO lah\ is used in Wales as a feminine form of Iolo (a pet form of Iorwerth)
• Iola Stover character in the musical Parade by Jason Robert Brown
• Iola Black character in the Harry Potter series
• Iola Boylan character on the sitcom Mama's Family
• Iola a temple priestess in Andrzej Sapkowski Witcher novels