The baby name Ian is brief, traditional, and a bit dashing too.
Thanks to Jessie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME IAN MEAN?
Count this name among the many, many international variations of John.
Along with Evan and Sean, it ranks among the most familiar forms of the name. It feels more wearable in English than the Russian Vanya or Portuguese João.
John means “God is gracious” and it’s been a dominant choice across English-speaking countries for centuries. The Hebrew name Yohanan is heard in the Old Testament; but it’s the New Testament that made this name an enduring choice.
How do John and Ian connect? The name started out as Iohannes in Biblical Latin. Swap the I for a J, and Johannes gives us John and company. In Scottish Gaelic Eoin evolved from Iohannes. The Scots whispered Eoin into Iain. Iain was slimmed down by one more ‘i’ over the years.
If Scottish origin Ian seems far removed from John, well, this name has also evolved into Juan in Spanish, Giovanni in Italian, Hans in German, Jean in French, Jan in Dutch and Polish, and Ivan in Russian – to name just a few.
FAMOUS PEOPLE NAMED IAN
Many a famous Ian traces his roots to Scotland.
It was a popular boy name across the UK before it caught on in the US. Notable Ians include:
- Rock stars from Jethro Tull’s Anderson to The Cults’ Astbury to Echo & the Bunnymen’s McCulloch.
- Writer Ian Fleming, creator of the legendary super-spy James Bond.
- Actors like Ian McKellen – famous for playing iconic characters like Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings; his co-star, Ian Holm, who played Bilbo Baggins; Ian McDiarmid, who brought Emperor Palpatine to life in the original Star Wars trilogy; and Ian Somerhalder, who played Damon Salvatore long-running supernatural series The Vampire Diaries.
Add in plenty of athletes, politicians, scientists, and a British war hero or three, and this starts to feel like an ordinary name that stops short of being a regular Joe.
Fictional characters have appeared on EastEnders, as well as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Pretty Little Liars, and more. Jurassic Park includes Ian Malcolm, famously played by American actor Jeff Goldblum.
TRENDING SOUND
The baby name Ian is a form of John, and a complete, stand-alone name.
But it’s also heard at the end of many trending favorites. Think Sebastian, Julian, and Adrian, to name just a few.
So it’s possible to imagine Ian on lists of nicknames for any of those longer choices.
We also appreciate a vowel-forward name. Similar names in the US Top 100 include Owen, Liam, and Eli.
Speaking of Eli, Ian’s status as a two-syllable, three-letter name has some appeal in our age of Leo.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME IAN?
The baby name Ian debuted in the United States Top 1000 back in 1935. Since 1982, the name has ranked in the Top 100 consistently.
As of 2024, Ian ranks #75. That’s about where the name has stood since the 1980s.
Elsewhere, the name is falling in use. That includes Great Britain (England & Wales, as well as Scotland.) It’s down in Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, too.
CLASSIC CHOICE
Overall, the baby name Ian combines a Scottish Gaelic origin with a familiar, accessible sound.
It’s a solid choice for a child – classic, though perhaps not as evergreen as John. Easily recognized, but still slightly surprising.
If you’re seeking a stable name for a child that maintains plenty of style, Ian could be the perfect name for you.
What do you think of the baby name Ian?
This post was published originally on February 16, 2012. Following substantial revision, it was reposted on March 15, 2017 and again on September 24, 2025.
My first soccer coach, back in the 70’s, was called Buzz and named his daughter 1@nette. I think that soured me n both junior-style and masculine names on girls. He was nice enough, but it seemed really weird to my fifth grade ears. Too bad, though, because it is a cool name.
Abby, I was tickled to see Ian today, my beloved grandfather. We did finally have a son and we did name him in honor of my grandpa. My grandpa preferred John rather than his given name, so we named our son John
The first boy I ever fell for in 5th grade was named Ian so I have this warm fuzzy feeling about the name. It doesn’t hurt that the likes of Ian Somerhalder bear the moniker either or that I’m of Scottish decent and my last name starts with Mc.
I really like Ian! It’s a lot like Eric to my ears: a regular guy kind of name with that stylish bit of something extra.
There’s also the character Ian in Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity”, he was played by Tim Robbins in the movie adaptation. It’s great because the Ian character is the “other man” and he’s this slick pan-Euro-poseur type. That movie made me see Ian in a whole different light 🙂
I have 2 nephews named Ian. It’s not a name that excites me. Too middle-of-the-road for my tastes.
I like Ian, but like the above poster, I like Ewan better. I have a question, though? Is Ioan (like Ioan Gryffund or however it’s spelled) a John variant-It sounds close to Ian?
It’s pronounced YO-un in Welsh – nothing like Ian/Iain – but you’re right: it’s a Welsh form of John.
I like Ian. I prefer Ewan, which I understand has an entirely different derivation than John, but still goes down that vowel-y, Celtic-y road.
I know two guys named Ian, both teenagers. It’s an alright name but doesn’t appeal to me personally.
I love Ian. One of my cousins is an Ian. I also have a cousin in Latvia named Janis (pronounced Yah-nis) which is similar. If it weren’t for them, I’d consider using Ian for a son.
I love Ian and I really love Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull <3