Ian

Scottish version of John
"God is gracious"

Ian Origin and Meaning

The name Ian is a boy's name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

Ian is Scottish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan. It is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic Iain, which is also a viable spelling. Ian was introduced to Americans by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.

Ian has enjoyed remarkable longevity, ranking in the Top 100 since the early 1980s but never vaulting into the Top 50. That's packing a lot of power into three letters.

Notable namesakes include actor Ian McKellan and novelist Ian McEwan. Actor Ian Ziering pronounces his name EYE-an, rather than the traditional EE-an.

# 70 in the US

Ian Rank in US Top 1000

# 255 on Nameberry

Ian Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Ian Popularity

Famous People Named Ian

  • Ian Joseph Somerhalder
    American actor
  • Ian Anthony Dale
    American actor
  • Ian Lancaster Fleming
    English novelist
  • Ian Russell McEwan
    English novelist
  • Ian McDiarmid
    Scottish actor
  • Ian Murray McKellen
    English actor
  • Ian Harding
    American actor
  • Ian Andrew Hecox
    American comedian of duo Smosh
  • Ian Edward Wright
    British footballer
  • Ian Murray
    American fashion designer
  • Ian Michael Nelson
    American actor
  • Ian Williams
    American football player
  • Ian Andrew Ziering
    American actor (pronounces it eye,an)
  • Ian Michael Smith
    American actor
  • Ian James Rankin
    Scottish novelist
  • Ian Michael Kinsler
    American baseball player
  • Ian Kevin Curtis
    English lead singer of band Joy Division
  • Ian David Lithgow
    American actor; son of actor John Lithgow
  • Ian Brown
    English musician
  • Ian McCormack
    Christian missionary and subject of film 'The Perfect Wave'
  • Thomas Ian Nicholas
    American actor
  • Ian Marcus Stapleton aka SSundee
    American YouTuber
  • Ian Bohen
    American actor
  • Ian Myles Crawford
    American musician and vocalist
  • Ian Carter
    American comedian called idubbbz
  • Ian Simpson
    American singer,songwriter and member of boy,band "BROCKHAMPTON"

Ian in Pop Culture

  • Ian Doyle
    character on TV's "Criminal Minds"
  • Ian Malcolm
    character in "Jurassic Park" series
  • Ian
    brother pig in the "Olivia the Pig" series
  • Ian Clayton Gallagher
    character on TV's "Shameless
  • Ian Beale
    character in British soap “Eastenders”
  • Ian Thomas
    character on TV's "Pretty Little Liars"
  • Ian O'Shea
    character in Stephenie Meyer's "The Host"
  • Ian Miller
    character in movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
  • Ian Duncan
    character on TV's "Community"
  • Ian Hawthorne
    character in "Star of Babylon" by Barbara Wood
  • Ian Dietrich
    character in "Attack on Titan"
  • Ian Boothby
    character in Marvel Universe
  • Ian Banks
    minor villain on "One Tree Hill"
  • Ian Kabra
    character in the 39 Clues book series
  • Ian Chesterton
    companion on TV's Doctor Who 1963,65