Ian
Ian is a boy's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Ian is the Scottish Gaelic form of John, ultimately deriving from the Hebrew name Yohanan. It entered widespread English usage in the twentieth century and has maintained a strong, consistent presence in the U.S. It ranks among the top 100 names for boys in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
257,664 babies in the United States have been named Ian since 1880. It ranks #148 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #76.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.8 %)
- TX (8.4 %)
- NY (7 %)
- FL (4.8 %)
- PA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 92 |
| 1920-1930 | 225 |
| 1930-1940 | 445 |
| 1940-1950 | 779 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,670 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,977 |
| 1970-1980 | 17,186 |
| 1980-1990 | 37,770 |
| 1990-2000 | 54,007 |
| 2000-2010 | 61,925 |
| 2010-2019 | 52,475 |
| 2020-2029 | 26,113 |
Famous people named Ian
- Ian McKellen: Actor
- Ian Fleming: Author, Journalist
- Ian Somerhalder: Actor, Model
Fun facts
- Ian originated as the Scottish Gaelic transliteration of John before spreading globally across the English-speaking world.
- Ian has maintained a remarkably stable placement in the U.S. top 100 male names throughout the early 21st century.