Boy Cat Names That Start With I

  1. Ignatius
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "fiery"
    • Description:

      The striking Ignatius is making a truly surprising comeback, sparked by its selection by not one but two celebrities — Cate Blanchett and Julianne Nicholson. With its fiery qualities and magical feel, Ignatius might just fit in with Blaze, Griffin, Ember, or Atticus.
  2. Izan
    • Origin:

      Basque variation of Ethan or Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "strong, firm; reliable mountain"
    • Description:

      Izan, pronounced with the same vowel sounds and emphasis as Ethan, ranks among the Top 20 boys' names in Spain, where it's been popular for two decades.
  3. Ivor
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Welsh Ifor
    • Meaning:

      "yew"
    • Description:

      Ivor, a favorite choice for upscale characters in Brit Lit novels by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, is an interesting and unusual name just waiting to be discovered by parents in this country.
  4. Indigo
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "Indian dye"
    • Description:

      Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. Color names have joined flower and jewel names -- in a big way -- and Indigo, a deep blue-purple dye from plants native to India, is particularly striking for both girls and boys. Although most people don't think of it like this, Indigo might also be considered among the most stylish Greek baby names in use today. Some cultural references: The Indigo Girls are a folk duo, 'Mood Indigo' is a classic Duke Ellington jazz composition, and there is a 1970's New Age theory that Indigo children possess special, sometimes supernatural abilities. Indigo is the name of a character in the Ntozake Shange novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and was used for his daughter by Lou Diamond Phillips.
  5. Icarus
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames.
  6. Iggy
    • Origin:

      Latin, diminutive of Ignatius
    • Meaning:

      "fiery"
    • Description:

      Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
  7. Izzy
    • Origin:

      Nickname
    • Description:

      Multipurpose pet name serving Isidore, Isaac, Israel, and -- increasingly -- Isabel.
  8. Indy
    • Description:

      The heroic movie figure Indiana Jones was often called Indy, as in the equally testosterone-laden Indy 500 car race. It could also be short for Indigo or Indio, or just use it as is.
  9. Ishmael
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God will hear"
    • Description:

      Ishmael is most familiar through "Call me Ishmael," the opening line spoken by the youthful narrator of Moby-Dick. Few American parents have followed that advice, though the Spanish and Arabic spelling, Ismael, ranks at Number 362. With its warm and pleasant sound, though, we could see Ishmael tagging along behind Isaiah and Isaac.
  10. Isambard
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bright iron"
    • Description:

      Isambard is derived from Old German Isanbert, meaning "bright iron" or "famous iron". Its most famous bearer, rather fittingly, is the 19th century British civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, noted as one of the driving forces of the Industrial Revolution.
  11. Isra
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "journey of the night"
    • Description:

      Isra is a gender-neutral Arabic name. The name of a chapter of the Quran, it refers to the Prophet's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem.
  12. Irie
    • Origin:

      Jamaican
    • Meaning:

      "positive and powerful"
    • Description:

      Irie is an upbeat and modern name that originated as a Rastafarian term for "positive and powerful."
  13. Itan
    • Origin:

      Russian variation of Eitan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong, firm"
    • Description:

      Among the most wearable Russian boy names for an English-speaking child.
  14. Ikenna
    • Origin:

      Igbo
    • Meaning:

      "father's power"
    • Description:

      Ikenna's meaning makes it a subtle way to honor a father or grandfather. Ikenna is the name of a popular YouTube star.
  15. Israh
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "night travel"
    • Description:

      Israh which is also spelled Isra is a gender-neutral Muslim name.
  16. Indra
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "possessing drops of rain"
    • Description:

      In the ancient Hindu religion, Indra is the warrior god of sky and rain. The vowel ending makes it sound feminine to the English speaker; it also sounds like the French river Indre.
  17. Isham
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the Iron One's estate"
    • Description:

      A noble surname from northern England that has occasionally been used as a first name.
  18. Immanuel
    • Origin:

      German variation of Emmanuel
    • Description:

      In the US, Emmanuel has held steady around the Top 200 for a quarter century now, but this variation has dropped off the Top 1000 for three of the past seven years. It was Number 974 in 2016.
  19. Ikaika
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "strong"
    • Description:

      The strong sounds in this energetic Hawaiian name mirror its meaning.