Iolah as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Iolah

What is the meaning of the name Iolah ?

The baby name Iolah is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced eye-OH-lah,ee-OH-lah,/aɪˈoʊlə/,/iːˈoʊlə/.

Iolah is Greek in Origin.

Iolah is a modern spelling variant of Iola, ultimately from Greek Iole (Ἰόλη), commonly interpreted as “violet” or “violet-colored,” linked to the Greek word ion “violet.” In Greek myth, Iole, daughter of Eurytus, helped place the name in classical literature. Closely related “violet” forms arose in Romance languages, including Iolanthe and Yolande.

In the English-speaking world, Iola rose in the late 19th century, fitting the era’s fondness for concise, classical girls’ names; it appeared in U.S. records from the 1880s into the early 20th century before fading. Iolah emerges as an ornamental -h ending, analogous to Sarah/Hannah, and remains rare. Variants and related forms include Iola, Iole, Iolanthe, Yolande/Yolanda, and the Hawaiian Iolana (phonetic cousin, different etymology “to soar”).

⚙ Iolah does not appear in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. This usually means it's either extremely rare, a regional/traditional name not captured by official statistics, or a brand-new coinage. Use it knowing your child will almost certainly be the only one in the room.