Gender: Boy
Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Scottish Gaelic form of John — from the Hebrew Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן)
Popularity: Ranked #75 in 2024 with 4,547 babies born.
History: Ian is the Scottish Gaelic form of John, one of the most influential names in history. It entered English usage from Scotland in the 20th century and quickly became popular across the English-speaking world for its crisp, modern feel — all the gravitas of John compressed into two punchy letters. Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, gave it a sleek, sophisticated edge. Ian McKellen, Ian Curtis, and Ian McEwan have kept it in literary and cultural prominence. It has been in the U.S. top 100 for decades — short, strong, and impossibly cool.
Name length: 3 letters
How common is Ian? About 1 in 731 babies born in 2024 were named Ian, or roughly 12.5 per day in the United States.
Explore more baby names at BabyNa.me — 29,000+ names with meanings, origins, and popularity trends.