'I' Names are Interesting Iconic Innovative

Ione

Greek

"violet flower"

This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan. Ione was one of the fifty sea nymphs —…

Ira

Hebrew, Russian, Greek, Finnish, Sanskrit, "watchful one; peace; protectress; earth

Truly multi-cultural, Ira can be: a Russian short form of Irina, meaning "peace"; a gender-switch of the Hebrew male name Ira, meaning "watchful"; a modern Greek and Finnish form of Hera, meaning…

Irena

Czech; Latvian; Polish; Bulgarian; Lithuanian, from Greek

"peace"

This form of Irene feels fresher and gives the classic name a chic, international flair. It's most commonly used in Eastern Europe.

Irma

German

"universal, whole, great"

A Top 200 choice in the US from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, Irma has nevertheless fallen out of favor with modern parents, and doesn't look set for the sort of comeback that some of her…

Irmina

Irmina is a feminine name with strong Germanic roots, derived from the element "irmin" meaning "great" or "universal." This ancient name was carried by an 8th-century saint, Saint Irmina of Oeren,…

Irmine

Irmine is a feminine name with ancient Germanic roots, derived from the element 'ermen' or 'irmin,' which referred to a deity or could mean 'universal' or 'whole.' It's related to the masculine name…

Isadora

Greek

"gift of Isis"

For a long time, Isadora has been overlooked in favor of Isabella, owing perhaps to its association with the tragic modern dancer, Isadora Duncan, or because parents would rather their daughter be a…

Isis

Egyptian

"throne"

Isis has gone from magical, feminist name on the rise to the forbidden list because of the extremist terror group called ISIS, an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Unsurprisingly, Isis was…

Islah

Islah is a feminine name with Arabic origins, carrying the beautiful meaning of "reform," "improvement," or "reconciliation." The name derives from Arabic linguistic roots related to correction and…

Ismene

Greek

"knowledgeable"

Sister of Antigone and daughter of Oedipus in Greek mythology, Ismene's name is unlikely to make it in modern times because of its teasability factor. Ismay or Esme would be better bets.

Ithaca

Place-name, Latin, Greek

"island"

The island home of Odysseus, the name of a real-life Greek island, and the New York city site of Cornell University, Ithaca feels like a scholarly and distinctive choice. Pronounced as ith-uh-kuh, it…

Iva

Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Slovak, Czech, English

"willow tree; God is gracious; yew tree; bow warrior"

Short, sweet, and sharp, this multicultural choice is currently popular in Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While not in the charts elsewhere, it is familiar in English…

Ivana

Feminine variation of Ivan

A rarely used Slavic name until the Czech-born ex-Mrs. Trump took it over the top. Daughter's name Ivanka adds a dollop of charm.

Ivanka

Variation of Ivana

"God is gracious"

High-profile First Daughter Trump bears a nickname for her mother's name, Ivana. But though quite common in Slavic countries, and despite its international appeal, Ivanka is likely to remain a…

Ivette

French variation of Yvette

Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.

Ivonne

French variation of Yvonne

The I freshens up this name.