Girl Names Starting with I: Cool Ivy to Rare Isannah

Girl names starting with I fit right in with so many vowel-forward choices.

After all, A is the most popular letter for girls’ names, with E right behind. The letter I ranks twelfth – midway through the alphabet.

And yet, there just aren’t that many baby girl names starting with I. And, unlike Amelia/Emilia or Olivia/Alivia, relatively few girls’ names can swap an I for another vowel – at least as the first initial – without changing pronunciation.

I and Y do often swap places … but given how rare Y is, that doesn’t really change much.

And so I names for girls remain a highly curated set. While some of these choices are true chart-toppers – including a former #1 name! – plenty of rare gems await, too.

Read on for some of the most intriguing girl names starting with I.

I NAMES FOR GIRLS IN THE US TOP 1000

ISABELLA (#7)

A Top Ten name since 2004, and #1 from 2009 to 2010, regal and romantic Isabella is a generation-defining name.

ISLA (#28)

Scottish Isla caught American parents’ attention thanks to actor Isla Fisher. It fits right in with names American parents love, like Mia and Ella.

IVY (#39)

An ecovintage darling, Ivy’s middle v just adds to this name’s appeal.

IRIS (#61)

Another gorgeous nature name, sophisticated Iris still brings to mind the 1998 Goo Goo Dolls’ power ballad by the name.

ISABELLE (#166)

Isabella is the chart-topper, but the slightly shorter Isabelle has had a good run, too.

ISABEL (#177)

Both Isabel and Isabelle followed Isabella.

ITZEL (#359)

Likely a version of Ixchel, a Mayan goddess name.

IVORY (#378)

A mix of Avery and Ivy, Ruby and Aria, Ivory is musical, colorful, and with a stylish sound, too.

IYLA (#525)

Most often a phonetic spelling of Isla, influenced by the popular Ayla. But in at least one case, it’s different. English pop star Steve Hart and actor Ashley Scott named their younger daughter Iyla Vue – “I love you” – in 2015.

IZABELLA (#564)

A creatively-spelled spin on Isabella, one that makes the nickname Izzy a little more obvious.

IVANNA (#567)

A feminine form of Ivan, that makes Ivanna one of many names related to the enduring John.

IMANI (#579)

A Swahili word meaning faith, Imani is also the seventh principle of winter holiday Kwanzaa.

INDIE (#634)

A sparky, spirited name in the key of Sadie, one that suggests independence.

IRENE (#651)

A traditional favorite with a powerful meaning: peace.

ISABELA (#664)

One more Isabella/Isabel name makes the US Top 1000.

ILA (#718)

It could be a spare spelling of Isla, but Ila also means “earth” in Sanskrit. The name appears in Hindu legend as both masculine and feminine.

ILIANA (#730)

In several languages Elias and Elijah are spelled with an I instead of an E. Iliana evolved as a feminine form of Elias in those languages, but it could also be invented in our Eliana/Lilianna moment.

INDY (#768)

Casual, breezy Indy-with-a-Y is following Indie-with-an-IE into greater use.

INAYA (#776)

From Arabic, Inaya means care or concern, and looks quite a bit like many stylish names, too.

INDIGO (#854)

Once among the more unique girl names, Indigo fits right in with Navy – and Scarlett and Olive and Rose, too.

IVEY (#926)

Another spelling for fast-rising favorite Ivy.

RARE & VINTAGE GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH I

IANNA

A Greek cousin to Gianna, making this another feminine form of John.

IANTHE

The name of an ocean nymph in Greek myth, Ianthe is another name meaning violet, like the flower.

IARA

A mermaid-like creature from Brazilian folklore, and cousin to fast-rising Yara.

ICELYNN

Is this a nature plus name, in the key of Lakelyn and Wrenlee? Maybe. A phonetic(ish) take on the Irish Aislinn? Could be. But Icelynn and Icelyn have a history of use, especially with Jamaican families.

ICIAR

Spelled Icíar in Spanish and Itziar in Basque, this name refers to a tiny village on the France-Spain border. It refers to Our Lady of Itziar, a title for the Virgin Mary.

ICIE

A weather-related winter name, regularly in the US Top 1000 in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

IDA

A mini name with Germanic roots, Ida had a good run in the nineteenth century, thanks to a Tennyson poem turned Gilbert and Sullivan musical.

IDALIA

A rare girl name with multiple origins, and a lovely sound.

IDELLA

Ida meets Bella. This vintage choice ranked in the US Top 1000 every year from 1880 into the 1940s, before heading for obscurity.

IDONY

A medieval English form of a Norse goddess name, related to springtime and renewal.

IDRIL

A Tolkien invention for the Silmarillion from fictional language Sindarin. It means “sparkling brilliant light.”

IDUN, IDUNN

In Norse mythology, the goddess Iðunn was responsible for spring and guarded the gods’ immortality. Idun is a modern Scandinavian choice. The single-N spelling is particularly popular in Sweden now.

ILANA

A Hebrew name meaning tree.

ILMA

Finnish nature name meaning air, but also an Arabic name meaning wisdom.

ILONA

Most likely another form of Helen, but in Finnish, it coincides with the world “ilo” – joy. Rugby star Ilona Maher made this name familiar to American audiences after playing for US Olympic teams in 2020 and 2024.

ILSA and ILSE

German and Dutch short forms of Elisabeth, Ingrid Bergman made the name famous in the unforgettable 1942 movie Casablanca. 

IMAN

From the Arabic word meaning faith, Iman is masculine in some languages. Somali-born supermodel Iman makes this name familiar internationally.

IMOGEN

This may have started out as a typo, or it might’ve been a deliberate re-naming by Shakespeare, Imogen comes from the Celtic Innogen – maiden.

INA

Another mini name, Ina could be short for any name ending with -ina. Or it might stand on its own, as in Food Network’s celebrated chef Ina Garten.

INANNA

Ancient Sumerian goddess. Her name translates to “lady of the heavens.”

INARA

Several origins are possible for this name, including an Arabic root meaning “to illuminate.”

INDIA

Long a traditional name for British families with ties to the country, India now fits with our love of place names, as well as beautiful girl names with a flowing, romantic sound. Potential nickname Indie is another bonus.

INDIANA

There’s fictional explorer Jones, of course, but place name Indiana – and nickname Indie/Indy – feels perfectly unisex.

INDIRA

Sanskrit name meaning beauty, associated with the first female prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

INES, INEZ

The Spanish form of Agnes.

INGARET

Take the Welsh Angharad, mix in a little bit of Margaret, and Ingaret is the result.

INGRID

A gorgeous Scandi name with a strong sound and glam image, thanks to Hollywood Golden Age star Ingrid Bergman.

IO

The ultimate mini name, a borrowing from Greek myth and one of the moons of Jupiter.

IOLANTHE

Another I name for a daughter borrowed from a Gilbert & Sullivan musical, this time related to violets.

IONA

Likely Scottish in origin, Iona was the Isla of the early twentieth century.

IONE

A sea nymph’s name in Greek mythology, derived from the word for violet.

IPHIGENIA

Greek myth gives us a princess by the name, the daughter of King Agamemnon. When Agamemnon offended the gods, they demanded he sacrifice Iphigenia to atone. At the last second, she was saved. The name comes from elements meaning “strong” and “born.”

IRELAND

Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin gave this name to their now-grown daughter. With place names so much in favor, Ireland fits right in.

IRINA

A form of Irene seldom heard in English, but familiar in many Euorpean languages.

IRMA

Also spelled Erma, this former favorite comes from the same German roots as Emma.

ISABEAU

A gorgeous medieval variant of Isabelle.

ISADORA

A logical substitute for Isabella, Isadora means “gift of Isis,” as in the Egyptian goddess. Dancer Isadora Duncan is another worthy reference.

ISANNAH

A name straight out of Colonial America, Isannah appears to be a cousin to so many ends-in-annah names, from Hannah to Susannah. It’s a character name in Johnny Tremain, keeping the name alive for new generations to discover.

ISAURA

A rare and ancient name inspired by a region in Asia Minor, Isaura feels a little like Isabelle meets Laura.

ISMENE

Name from Greek legend meaning knowledge. Like Penelope, Chloe, and so many other names of Greek origin, the final E is pronounced.

ISOBEL

The Scottish spelling of Isabelle, distinctive and unexpected. Fun fact: Downton Abbey’s Isobel Crawley uses this spelling.

ISOLDE

A princess from the medieval tales of Arthur, a name that’s just barely familiar, but seldom heard.

ISOTTA

Italian form of Isolde.

ISRA

Arabic name meaning “to travel by night,” a reference to a journey taken by Muhammad.

ITALIA and ITALY

A place name that’s every bit as wearable as Italy. Italia is simply the the Italian equivalent. (Though officially, the country is named Repubblica Italiana – the Republic of Italy.)

ITZAYANA

Likely a cousin to Itzel, influenced by the popularity of longer, -ana and -anna endings.

IVA

From Ida to Iva, another mini name with potential appeal for parents seeking minimalist choices. Iva has multiple origins and meanings, including yew tree, willow tree, or maybe even a feminine form of John.

IZUMI

Japanese name that can refer to springtime, based on the kanji used to write the name.

What are your favorite girl names starting with I?

First published on December 21, 2020, this post was revised and republished on September 13, 2021; October 24, 2022; September 18, 2023; June 26, 2024; July 13, 2025; and July 13, 2026.