The nameIan
Ian is the Scottish form of John. It has been in the American top 100 since 1982.
- Boy's name
- Scottish Gaelic
Meaning
Ian comes from Iain, the Scottish Gaelic form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
Origin
Scottish Gaelic.
History
Ian spread beyond Scotland in the 20th century. Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, made it widely known. In the United States it reached 65th place in 2003.
Did you know?
- Ian Fleming borrowed the name James Bond from an American ornithologist, author of a guide to the birds of the West Indies.
Famous people named Ian
- Ian Fleming, novelist
- Ian McKellen, actor
- Ian Curtis, singer of Joy Division
- Ian Rankin, crime writer
Popularity of the name Ian
Ian in the United States
Ian was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 62,047 births over the decade, 24% of all recorded babies named Ian. Its rise began around 1967, and it peaked in 2005. Half of all babies named Ian in the United States were born before 2001. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 4,442 births a year.
Ian in the United Kingdom
Ian was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,344 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named Ian. Half of all babies named Ian in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 77 births a year.
Ian in Ireland
Ian in France
Ian in Belgium
Ian in Switzerland
Ian in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ian
Names from the same generation as Ian, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ian? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ian with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ian side by side with the name of your choice.
Ian in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ian mean?
Ian comes from Iain, the Scottish Gaelic form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
What is the origin of the name Ian?
Scottish Gaelic.
Is Ian a girl's or a boy's name?
Ian is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Ian?
In 2024, Ian was the 75th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 4,547 births.
What are the variants of the name Ian?
Variants and related names of Ian include John.
What are good sibling names for Ian?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Autumn, Victoria, Jade and Maya for a sister, Logan, Carson, Cameron and Charles for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ian?
Ian Fleming, novelist; Ian McKellen, actor; Ian Curtis, singer of Joy Division; Ian Rankin, crime writer.