Ian

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew — Scottish form of John

Boy's name · #83 in the US (2025) · 2000s wave

Popularity over time

Ian reached #65 in 2003 and has eased to #83 since. About 258,000 boys have carried it since 1912.

Ian spread outward from Scotland: #9 there in 1950, #8 in England and Wales in 1964. It reached the American top 100 only in 1982, and has not left it since.

Across the states

See where Ian is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 50 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

Ian is especially popular in Ecuador.

#4 in Ecuador (2025) · #11 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #63 in Spain (2024) · #88 in Mexico (2024) · #103 in Slovenia (2025) · #121 in Sweden (2025) · #182 in Canada (2025) · #216 in Netherlands (2025) · #216 in Italy (2024) · #231 in Switzerland (2025) · #239 in New Zealand (2025) · #262 in Ireland (2025) and 12 more.

Famous Ians

Ian Fleming — British writer (1908–1964)
Ian McKellen — British actor (born 1939)
Ian McShane — English actor (born 1942)
Ian Somerhalder — American actor (born 1978)
Ian McEwan — British author (born 1948)
Ian Wright — English footballer and pundit (born 1963)
Ian Holm — British actor (1931–2020)
Ian Curtis — British musician (1956–1980)
Ian Gillan — English singer (born 1945)
Ian Rush — Welsh footballer and manager (born 1961)

In stories & tradition

Ian Malcolm — Jurassic Park character
Ian Chesterton — Character in the TV series Doctor Who
Ian Beale — EastEnders (TV series)

What Ians become

Among 4,778 notable people named Ian:

Sports figures appear 1.62× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ian Thorpe, Australian swimmer (born 1982).

Similar names: Evan · Cameron · Yahya · Nathaniel · Ryan · Nathan

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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