Ian

Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Scottish Gaelic — 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) · #64 in Spain (2024) · #90 in Mexico (2024) · #103 in Slovenia (2025) · #121 in Sweden (2025) · #216 in Netherlands (2025) · #231 in Switzerland (2025) · #239 in New Zealand (2025) · #264 in Norway (2025) · #266 in Ireland (2025) · #315 in Poland (2025) and 6 more.

Famous Ians

Ian Fleming — British author (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)

In stories & tradition

Ian Malcolm — Jurassic Park (book)
Ian Chesterton — Doctor Who (TV series)
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.

Similar names: Cameron · Yahya · Dylan · Ryan · Evan · Nolan

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

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