Ian
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Ian
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.
Ian is also given to girls, where it ranks #11297 in the US.
Pronounced EE-un.
As of October 2026, Ian ranked #83 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #65 in 2003, Nameberry popularity #131.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #77 | 5,461 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #76 | 5,329 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #78 | 5,079 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #76 | 5,033 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #79 | 4,704 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #81 | 4,550 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #83 | 4,266 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #81 | 4,300 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #72 | 4,501 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #69 | 4,551 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #75 | 4,547 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #83 | 3,924 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Ian.
Ian on lists
Famous Ians
- Ian Joseph SomerhalderBoy
American actor
- Ian Anthony DaleBoy
American actor
- Ian Lancaster FlemingBoy
English novelist
- Ian Russell McEwanBoy
English novelist
- Ian McDiarmidBoy
Scottish actor
- Ian Murray McKellenBoy
English actor
- Ian HardingBoy
American actor
- Ian Andrew HecoxBoy
American comedian of duo Smosh
- Ian Edward WrightBoy
British footballer
- Ian MurrayBoy
American fashion designer
- Ian Michael NelsonBoy
American actor
- Ian WilliamsBoy
American football player
- Ian Andrew ZieringBoy
American actor (pronounces it eye,an)
- Ian Michael SmithBoy
American actor
- Ian James RankinBoy
Scottish novelist
- Ian Michael KinslerBoy
American baseball player
- Ian Kevin CurtisBoy
English lead singer of band Joy Division
- Ian David LithgowBoy
American actor; son of actor John Lithgow
- Ian BrownBoy
English musician
- Ian McCormackBoy
Christian missionary and subject of film 'The Perfect Wave'
- Thomas Ian NicholasBoy
American actor
- Ian Marcus Stapleton aka SSundeeBoy
American YouTuber
- Ian BohenBoy
American actor
- Ian Myles CrawfordBoy
American musician and vocalist
- Ian CarterBoy
American comedian called idubbbz
- Ian SimpsonBoy
American singer,songwriter and member of boy,band "BROCKHAMPTON"
Ian in pop culture
- Ian DoyleBoy
character on TV's "Criminal Minds"
- Ian MalcolmBoy
character in "Jurassic Park" series
- IanBoy
brother pig in the "Olivia the Pig" series
- Ian Clayton GallagherBoy
character on TV's "Shameless
- Ian BealeBoy
character in British soap “Eastenders”
- Ian ThomasBoy
character on TV's "Pretty Little Liars"
- Ian O'SheaBoy
character in Stephenie Meyer's "The Host"
- Ian MillerBoy
character in movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
- Ian DuncanBoy
character on TV's "Community"
- Ian HawthorneBoy
character in "Star of Babylon" by Barbara Wood
- Ian DietrichBoy
character in "Attack on Titan"
- Ian BoothbyBoy
character in Marvel Universe
- Ian BanksBoy
minor villain on "One Tree Hill"
- Ian KabraBoy
character in the 39 Clues book series
- Ian ChestertonBoy
companion on TV's Doctor Who 1963,65