Name Spellings, Initials and Sounds
By Sophie Kihm · Updated October 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Hebrew
"the glory is gone"
Ichabod, an eccentric Old Testament name, is forever tied to the character of Ichabod Crane -- and worse, the teasing possibilities of "icky bod." Even its original meaning is a negative. Skip…
Possible variation of Esme
"esteemed, beloved"
The rise of the the various Isabel names may give a boost to this variation, which has a sunny, springtime feel. Although this name has been around since the thirteenth century, its origins remain…
Hindi
"moon"
Indu is truly unusual, but shares sounds with more popular choices like Indie and Indigo. Other moon names to consider: Luna, Serena, Io.
French or Sanskrit
"cave; possessing drops of rain"
The Indre is a river in France. Spelled Indra, it's the name of a powerful deity worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains — roughly the South Asian equivalent of the Greek Zeus or Norse Odin. But…
Danish
"son of Ib"
Ibsen is a literary hero name possibility, after the great Norwegian dramatist, Henrik I. The name Ib is a short form of Jacob, so you might consider Ibsen as an honorific for or a twin of a Jacob.
English
"pledged to God"
An English diminutive of Isabel or Elizabeth that works best with a longer form on the birth certificate.
Danish, diminutive of Jacob
Ib, though it sounds insubstantial here, is actually a pretty common name in Denmark.
English variation of Yves
"yew wood"
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
Greek
"purple flower"
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the…
Arabic
"might, glory, honor"
An Arabic boy name with a powerful meaning, Izzat has a distinct Z-heavy sound and could be shortened to the cute nickname Izzy. Bearers of this name include the Soviet Turkmen painter Izzat Klychev,…
Iphigeneia is a feminine name from Greek mythology, belonging to the daughter of Agamemnon who was offered as a sacrifice to appease the goddess Artemis before the Trojan War. The name's etymology is…
Israeli
"amber"
Fashionable choice in modern Israel, also a place-name there, not likely to succeed here.
Welsh
"weathy lord"
Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.
Hungarian diminutive of Ilona; variation of Helen
"bright, shining one"
To some, may have the same warm feeling of Russian nicknames like Sasha and Misha.
Iolantha is an elegant feminine name with Greek origins, derived from the elements 'ion' meaning 'violet flower' and 'anthos' meaning 'flower,' essentially translating to 'violet flower' or 'purple…
Greenlandic, from Hebrew
"ascended, uplifted, high"
A cute, unisex variant of Eli seen in Greenland. Its double I initial may confuse some, but its short-and-sweet sound makes Iilik an ideal choice for those looking for a Greenlandic name that feels…
"gift"
Also transliterated as Ehab, this Arabic name has the sweet meaning of "gift". A notable namesake is Egyptian-born American author Ihab Hassan, credited for popularising the concept of postmodernism…
Scottish
"from the river island"
Innis is the name of an island (and Gaelic word for island) which became a Scottish surname and clan name before being used as a first. It hasn't been heard much in the U.S., but could attract more…
Latin
"ardent, burning"
This Spanish form of the yet-to-be-revived Ignatius was borne by an early and influential Philipina nun known as Mother Ignacia.
"archer"
Ifor seems to make more sense in its Anglicized version, Ivor.
