IANTHEfGreek Mythology Means "violet flower", derived from Greek ἴον (ion) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This was the name of an ocean nymph in Greek mythology.
IBOLYAfHungarian Means "violet" in Hungarian, ultimately from Latin viola.
IOLANTHEfVarious Probably a variant of YOLANDA influenced by the Greek words ἰόλη (iole) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This name was (first?) used by Gilbert and Sullivan in their comic opera Iolanthe (1882).
IONEfGreek Mythology, English From Ancient Greek ἴον (ion) meaning "violet flower". This was the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, though perhaps based on the Greek place name Ionia, a region on the west coast of Asia Minor.
LJUBICAfSerbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene From the Slavic element lyuby meaning "love" combined with a diminutive suffix. It can also come from Serbo-Croatian ljubicica meaning "violet".
PORFIRIOmItalian, Spanish Derived from the Greek name Πορφύριος (Porphyrios), which was derived from the word πορφύρα (porphyra) meaning "purple dye". This was the name of several early saints.
VIOLETfEnglish From the English word violet for the purple flower, ultimately derived from Latin viola. It was common in Scotland from the 16th century, and it came into general use as an English given name during the 19th century.
VIORELmRomanian Derived from viorea, the Romanian word for the alpine squill flower (species Scilla bifolia) or the sweet violet flower (species Viola odorata). It is derived from Latin viola "violet".
YOLANDAfSpanish, English From the medieval French name Yolande, which was probably a form of the name Violante, which was itself a derivative of Latin viola"violet". Alternatively it could be of Germanic origin.... [more]