Meaning: Its source is a Greek expression meaning "Purple."

Nicknames: Nonie and Ionie

Variant Forms: Ionia

Popularity: The name Ione ranked 1191st in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: For Greek speakers, it derives from an expression meaning ''Purple.''

Its English use stems not only from the Greek source, but also from the Gaelic name for a small island in the Hebrides, (the inspiration for Iona's use among the Scots.)

Though the meaning of the island's name is uncertain, it probably derives in part from the Old Norse term ey, meaning ''Island.''