Iola: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	233	23	–	#358
1890s	471	47	+102%	#362
1900s	953	95	+102%	#265
1910s	2,525	253	+165%	#294
1920s	2,546	255	+1%	#363
1930s	1,367	137	-46%	#492
1940s	692	69	-49%	#722
1950s	437	44	-37%	#1,176
1960s	164	16	-62%	#2,328
1970s	79	8	-52%	#4,823
1980s	40	4	-49%	#6,998
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	19	2	–	#14,139
2010s	78	8	+311%	#7,221
2020s (to 2025)	55	9	+18%	#9,178

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

233

–

#358

1890s

471

+102%

#362

1900s

953

+102%

#265

1910s

2,525

253

+165%

#294

1920s

2,546

255

+1%

#363

1930s

1,367

137

-46%

#492

1940s

692

-49%

#722

1950s

437

-37%

#1,176

1960s

164

-62%

#2,328

1970s

-52%

#4,823

1980s

-49%

#6,998

1990s

–

2000s

–

#14,139

2010s

+311%

#7,221

2020s (to 2025)

+18%

#9,178

The story of Iola

Iola is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #12,412 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 9,659 American babies have been named Iola. Its peak came in 1918, when 368 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Iola stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Iola?

The median living Iola is about 77 years old; half are between 65 and 86. An estimated 1,600 people named Iola are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Iola year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	7	#12,412
2024	8	#11,506
2023	9	#10,652
2022	9	#10,711
2021	11	#9,195
2020	11	#9,178
2019	5	#16,484
2018	–	–
2017	16	#7,221
2016	11	#9,669
2015	11	#9,735
2014	7	#13,626
2013	6	#15,344
2012	7	#14,053
2011	9	#11,549
2010	6	#15,704
2009	–	–
2008	5	#18,589
2007	7	#14,487
2006	7	#14,139
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	5	#10,960
1975	8	#6,734
1970	7	#6,591
1965	21	#2,699
1960	26	#2,328
1955	45	#1,523
1950	62	#1,176
1945	83	#826
1940	93	#722
1935	152	#520
1930	184	#492
1925	250	#437
1920	327	#363
1915	289	#350
1910	175	#294
1905	80	#378
1900	71	#393
1895	48	#405
1890	30	#479
1885	20	#475
1880	15	#439

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Iola, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Iola?

The median living Iola is about 77 years old. Half of all living Iolas are between 65 and 86 years old.

How many people named Iola are alive today?

An estimated 1,600 people named Iola are alive in the United States, based on 9,659 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Iola mean?

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἴον (íon, “violet”), evoking the flower's symbolism of modesty and beauty.

How popular is the name Iola in 2025?

Iola ranked #12,412 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Iola?

9,659 babies have been named Iola in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Iola most popular?

Iola peaked in 1918, when 368 newborns received the name.

Is Iola a boy or girl name?

Iola is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Iola rising or falling?

Iola has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Iola

Iola popularity over time

The story of Iola

How old are people named Iola?

Iola year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Iola