The nameIvan
Ivan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious". The Slavic form of John, it is used across Europe and the Americas.
- Boy's name
- Slavic
- Feast day
Meaning
Ivan comes from the Greek Ioannes, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
Origin
Slavic. Ivan is the Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian and Croatian form of John. Iván is the Spanish spelling.
History
Ivan the Terrible, first Tsar of Russia, made the name famous in history. It is popular in Spain and Latin America and among Hispanic families in the United States.
Famous people named Ivan
- Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of Russia
- Ivan Turgenev, writer
- Ivan Pavlov, physiologist
- Ivan Rakitić, footballer
Popularity of the name Ivan
Ivan in the United States
Ivan was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 30,806 births over the decade, 21% of all recorded babies named Ivan. Its rise began around 1914, and it peaked in 2004. Half of all babies named Ivan in the United States were born before 1999. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,365 births a year on average, against 2,975 in the five years before.
Ivan in the United Kingdom
Ivan was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 1,534 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Ivan. Half of all babies named Ivan in the United Kingdom were born before 2016, 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 182 births a year.
Ivan in Ireland
Ivan in France
Ivan in Belgium
Ivan in Switzerland
Ivan in Austria
Ivan in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ivan
Names from the same generation as Ivan, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ivan? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ivan with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ivan side by side with the name of your choice.
Ivan in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ivan mean?
Ivan comes from the Greek Ioannes, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
What is the origin of the name Ivan?
Slavic. Ivan is the Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian and Croatian form of John. Iván is the Spanish spelling.
Is Ivan a girl's or a boy's name?
Ivan is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Ivan?
In 2024, Ivan was the 153rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 2,340 births.
What are the variants of the name Ivan?
Variants and related names of Ivan include Erwann, Gian, Ioannis, Iva, Ivana, Ivo, Jean and Johannes.
What are good sibling names for Ivan?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Melanie, Autumn, Ariana and Valerie for a sister, Vincent, Alan, Emmanuel and Carson for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ivan?
Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of Russia; Ivan Turgenev, writer; Ivan Pavlov, physiologist; Ivan Rakitić, footballer.