Ian
Scottish boy's name meaning “God is gracious”
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Scottish
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Syllables
- 1
- Letters
- 3
- US rank (2023)
- #70
- Born in 2023
- 4,551
- Peak year
- 2003 (#65)
Meaning & origin
Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'.
Is Ian a Scottish name?
Yes — Ian is a Scottish name meaning "God is gracious". Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'. You may also see it described as Gaelic or Celtic, which refer to the same root.
Popularity
In the latest US data, Ian ranked #70 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
In 2023, 4,551 US boys were given the name Ian.
US popularity rank over time
Peaked at #65 in 2003
“Unranked” means Ian was outside the US top 1,000 that year.
See more boy names starting with I.
How to spell Ian
Ian is spelled I-A-N — 3 letters and 1 syllable.
Ian: frequently asked questions
What does the name Ian mean?
Ian is a Scottish name meaning "God is gracious". Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'.
Where does the name Ian come from?
Ian is of Scottish origin. Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'.
Is Ian a boy or a girl name?
Ian is most commonly a boy's name.
How many babies are named Ian?
In 2023, 4,551 US boys were given the name Ian.
Is Ian a popular name, and is it rising or falling?
In the latest US data, Ian ranked #70 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
How do you spell Ian?
Ian is spelled I-A-N — 3 letters.
How common is the name Ian?
In 2023, 4,551 US boys were given the name Ian. In the latest US data, Ian ranked #70 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
Is Ian a Scottish name?
Yes — Ian is a Scottish name meaning "God is gracious". Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'. You may also see it described as Gaelic or Celtic, which refer to the same root.
What does Ian mean in Scottish?
In Scottish, Ian means "God is gracious". Ian is the Scottish form of John, from the Hebrew, 'God is gracious'.
Is Ian a Gaelic name?
Ian is usually classified as Scottish, and Gaelic belongs to that same tradition — so yes, it is commonly described as Gaelic too. It means "God is gracious".