Ian is of Scottish Gaelic origin and is the Scottish version of the name John. It comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan and means “God is gracious” or “the Lord is gracious.” Ian can also be spelled Iain. The name is imbued with a sense of history and Scottish heritage, while also feeling fresh and lively. Ian confers a sense of intelligence, kindness, honor, and grace.
How Popular Is the Name Ian?
Ian is a consistently popular name for American boys. According to the Social Security Administration’s list of the top 1000 baby names, Ian has been in the top 100 names for the past 40 years. The name has been steadily used since the mid-20th century. In 2000, it was ranked 73 and has held its position fairly evenly since then. In 2020, the name had dropped slightly to the rank of 83. Ian is not commonly used as a name for baby girls, but that, of course, does not mean it can’t be. In addition to being a popular name in America, Ian is a commonly used name in other English-speaking countries including England, Wales, and Scotland.
Name Variations
The following are possible variations of the name Ian:
EanEannEionIannIainIonJohnJon
Similar Names
Similar sounding names to Ian include the following:
ColinColsonConnorDonDylanEdgarEliseEthanKeenanKieranMarinTeigan
Other Scottish boy names include the following:
AlastairArchibald or ArchieAveryBlaineBruceBrysonCameronDavisDuncanElliotFinleyGordonHarrisKennedyLindsayMaxwellPatonRorySinclairTavish
Other boy names starting with I:
Iakavos Ibrahim Ignacio Igor Ikram Immanuel Indigo Isaac Isaiah Ismael Issa Ivan Izaiah
Suggested Sibling Names
Looking for a sibling name for Ian? Here are some popular options:
AdamAmyAlexAudreyEmmaEdmundHenryIndiaIrisIsabel or IsabelleJosephineMatthewMichaelMollyNoahOliverSarahScottVioletWalter
Famous People Named Ian
Some notable people who are named Ian include:
Ian Agol, American mathematicianIan Brown, English singer in the English rock band The Stone RosesIan Callaghan, English soccer player who played for Liverpool and was inducted into the British order of chivalry, the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireIan Cole, American professional hockey player who won the Stanely Cup with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016 and 2017Ian Fleming, English author of the “James Bond” spy novelsIan Hornak, American artist known for being a founder of the hyperrealist movementIan McEwan, British author of such novels as “Amsterdam” and “Atonement"Ian McKellen, iconic English actor
Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names in the U.S. 100 Biblical Baby Names 100 Color Baby Names
