Ian
Ian is the Scottish Gaelic form of John, meaning 'God is gracious.' It has been a beloved name in Scotland for centuries and gained widespread popularity throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 3,717. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 5,620
- 2012: 5,696
- 2013: 5,434
- 2014: 5,461
- 2015: 5,332
- 2016: 5,079
- 2017: 5,033
- 2018: 4,706
- 2019: 4,551
- 2020: 4,267
- 2021: 4,302
- 2022: 4,505
- 2023: 4,555
- 2024: 4,560
- 2025: 3,924
- 2026 (projected): 3,717
Good to Know
- •Extremely easy to spell and pronounce in English-speaking countries
- •Short and complete - doesn't require a nickname
- •Works well across different cultures and languages
- •The spelling 'Iain' is an alternative Scottish variant
Similar Names
Famous People
Ian McKellen
Actor known for Lord of the Rings and X-Men
Ian Fleming
Author and creator of James Bond
Ian Somerhalder
Actor known for The Vampire Diaries
Ian McEwan
Acclaimed British novelist
Statistics
257,664
Total births since 1880
2005
Peak year
Discovery
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