Name Ian
Ian is a masculine name with Hebrew, Scottish Gaelic origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.
Meaning of the name Ian
Origins and Core Meaning
Originating from the Scottish Gaelic name Iain, which is derived from the Hebrew name John, Ian means "God is gracious" or "the Lord is gracious". It is a biblical name that conveys the idea of divine favor and blessing.
Detailed Insights on Ian
Origins
Scottish Gaelic, derived from the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious" or "the Lord is gracious".
Symbolic Representation
The name Ian is often associated with the symbol of the lion, which represents courage, strength, and nobility. It also resonates with the color blue, which is often seen as a calming and soothing hue. Additionally, Ian is linked to the element of water, which symbolizes adaptability, flow, and resilience.
Personality Traits
Ian exudes an aura of stability, strength, and dependability. It evokes a sense of trustworthiness and loyalty, suggesting a person who is reliable and steadfast. The name also carries a subtle hint of sensitivity and introspection, indicating a depth of character and emotional intelligence.
Key Personality Traits
Personal Meanings of the Name Ian
Ian Overview & Analysis
Gender statistics
Ian is predominantly a boy's name with a strong masculine identity. Among 295,125 people named Ian, 295,059 are male and 66 are female resulting in a 100% male distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Ian's strong masculine identity.
Data Explanation
This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Ian's gender association.
Popularity
Ian classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 270 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named Ian is nearly 0.08%, or about one in 1,000+ people.
Based on the latest data from 2021 (1,672), 2022 (4,301), 2023 (4,480), Ian's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is 4.16%. The name Ian was most popular in 2005, making up 0.2% of baby names (or about one in 400+ babies), and reached its lowest point in 1923 with a usage rate of 0.0002%.
Country-Specific Prevalence
| Flag | Country | Rank | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 23 | 0.46% | |
| Australia | 51 | 0.4% | |
| Canada | 205 | 0.1% | |
| United States | 303 | 0.08% | |
| United Kingdom | 360 | 0.05% |
People named Ian are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 0.46% of the total population.
Data Source
The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:
- United States: Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/)
- Canada: Government of Ontario (https://data.ontario.ca/). Alberta’s top baby names (https://www.alberta.ca/). B.C.'s Most Popular Baby Names (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/)
- United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/)
- Australia: Government of South Australia (https://data.sa.gov.au/). Government of New South Wales (https://www.nsw.gov.au/). Northern Territory Government (https://nt.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (https://www.data.govt.nz/)
- Supplemental Sources: To enrich our data-driven approach, we supplement our primary sources with information from credible websites, academic publications, and expert opinions. This ensures that we provide a well-rounded perspective on baby names.
To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.
Additional Information on Ian
Pronunciation and Phonetics
- Name
- Ian
- Pronunciation
- EE-an
- EYE-an
- EE-en
- e-uhn
- ee-uh-n
- IPA Notation
- iˈʌn
- Syllable
- Stressed:I-an
- Syllable Count:2 Syllables
Chinese Translation of the Name Ian
- Translation
- 扬
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : yáng
- Feng Shui
- 扬Fire
Ian in Numerology
| I | A | N |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | |
| 5 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
Ian's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 1
- You yearn to become an independent individual, embrace your uniqueness, and think outside the box.
- You are motivated by taking responsibility and initiating projects, standing your ground in competition.
- You dislike being told what to do and have no intention of following the crowd or seeking conquest, victory, or glory.
Ian's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 5
- You have a need to express yourself and break free from financial limitations. Your body is capable of great things.
- You are often misunderstood, shy, or embarrassed. You should find comfortable and free jobs. The friends you hang out with feel happy, comfortable, not tied down, and not bound by rules.
Ian's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 6
- You are emotional, domestic, responsible, loyal, and sympathetic.
- You exude a deep well of love and are always willing to help those in need, offering support and care whenever necessary.
- You idealize love and strive to spread it to everyone, everywhere, and beyond.
Famous People Named Ian
- Ian McKellen (English actor known for his roles in "The Lord of the Rings" and "X-Men")
- Ian Fleming (English author and creator of the James Bond character)
- Ian Somerhalder (American actor known for his role in "The Vampire Diaries")
- Ian Wright (English former professional footballer)
- Ian Thorpe (Australian former swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist)
User-Submitted Information about Ian
T_zinn
In 2018, 5 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Ian who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 307th most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
Brotherpapz
In my family it is quite common. My dad is Ian, I am Ian Jr and at our yearly family Coutts reunion which will be the 90th year in 2017 there have been at least 7 Ian Couttsat the same table. Coutts being a Scottish name that we can trace back to the 1600's.
S8ateboard
Putting down another variant of a name is utterly childish. "Iain" is the true spelling? Not if your name is Ian it isn't. This is like saying that all forms of John, including John itself, Johann, Johannes, Giovanni, Juan, Jean, Sean, Eoin and Iain! are bastardizations of the original Hebrew Yochanan which, historically, they are. Lighten up. There's always room for more than one version of a name.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ian is a versatile and multifaceted name that carries a profound meaning and evokes a range of positive emotions. Its symbolism and historical significance contribute to its timeless appeal, making it a popular choice for parents looking for a name that reflects their hopes and aspirations for their child.
Dellerton
I named my son Ian and loved it when I said it in my head. But now I've discovered that it is very easily misunderstood. Ee-in can sound like Aaand (with a long a sound) from across the room. I kept hearing my kids say Ian, when they weren't really saying his name at all. I found it very confusing and got aggravated hearing it all the time. So now I call him by his middle name Carter. Also, I think Ian is easily misunderstood because of its lack of a hard consonant in the middle of the name. Names like Ethan, have the th in the middle and you can hear better.
Olzum123
My name is IAIN the true spelling of IAN. The name Ian is an embarrassment for any proud Scot who bears it as it almost immediately shows a lack of knowledge of Scottish Names. Many Ians become Iains when they become aware. Like many truly Scottish names they have been bastardised bad English misspellings and this is evident in names which are used for both forename and surname in Calum and Alison. One l is the correct forename and two ls are the surname however English produced name plates and other souvenirs spell IAIN as IAN and CALUM as CALLUM this makes me particularly annoyed as my son is the correctly named CALUM.
W_o_w_thzar
The I can be pronounced as Ee or Eye. I have met an EE-n and an Eye-n.