Ian

Boy name

Ian has been given to 258,479 babies in the U.S. since 1912. It peaked in 2005 and currently ranks #83 for boys (2025).

Meaning & origin /ˈiː.ən/

Origin: gd:Eòin

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

258,479

Peak year

2005 (6,704 babies)

Rank in 2025

#83 for boys

First recorded

1912

10-year trend

▼ -26%

Gender split

0% girls / 100% boys

Famous people named Ian

Ian Fleming

British author (1908–1964)

Ian McKellen

British actor (born 1939)

Ian McShane

English actor (born 1942)

Ian Somerhalder

American actor (born 1978)

Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Ian.

Aidenboy

259,912 babies since 1970

Isaiahboy

254,710 babies since 1880

Jesusboy

246,966 babies since 1880

Jaydenboy

276,060 babies since 1977

Hunterboy

276,622 babies since 1880

Connorboy

236,262 babies since 1913

Adrianboy

287,982 babies since 1880

Nathanielboy

288,265 babies since 1880

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