Girl · #5,099 in 2026

Iowa

Iowa is a landlocked state in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.

Current Rank
#5,099
Peak Rank
#1,181 (1899)
Total Babies
79
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1890
First Year
1921
Last Year
1899
Peak Year
#1181
Peak Rank
79
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Iowa

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Iowa is a landlocked state in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Like many other states , Iowa takes its name from its predecessor, Iowa Territory , whose name in turn is derived from the Iowa River , and ultimately from the ethnonym of the indigenous Ioway people . The Ioway are a Chiwere -speaking Siouan Nation , who were once part of the Ho-Chunk Confederation that inhabited the area now corresponding to several Midwest states. The Ioway were one of the many Native American nations whose territory comprised the future state of Iowa before the time of European colonization.
Origin & history
Main article: History of Iowa See also: Native American tribes in Iowa

The Story of Iowa

Iowa first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1890, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1899, when 8 Iowas were born — ranking #1,181 that year. As of 2026, Iowa ranks #5,099 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 79 Iowas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Iowa

Phonetically similar names — useful when Iowa is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Iowa

What does the name Iowa mean?
Iowa is a landlocked state in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.
How popular is Iowa in 2026?
In 2026, Iowa ranks #5,099 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Iowa most popular?
Iowa reached its peak popularity in 1899, ranking #1,181 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Iowa a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Iowa is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Iowa?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Iowa include Floe, Ilean, Brandis. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Floe
Peak #1181
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Ilean
Peak #1181
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Brandis
Peak #1181
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Alaiyah
Peak #1181
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Prisha
Peak #1181
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Otilia
Peak #1182
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Felice
Peak #1182
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Devona
Peak #1182

About the name Iowa

Iowa is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1890 and has accumulated 79 births in the dataset. Iowa's peak popularity came in 1899 when it ranked #1,181. Use the chart and map above to compare Iowa's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.