Meaning and history
Iolanthe is a feminine name related to Yolanda and medieval forms such as Violante. Its deeper origin is uncertain, though it has often been reinterpreted through Greek ion, “violet,” and anthos, “flower,” as “violet flower.” Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1882 comic opera Iolanthe gave the form a lasting theatrical association. A notable bearer was Australian politician Iolanthe McKenzie. The attractive Greek analysis should be described as a later interpretation rather than an unquestioned origin.