Ian
Say it: EE-an/ˈiː.ən/
BoyMeans a form of John, which means "God is gracious"3 letters2 syllables
#262
in Ireland (2025)
#255 with spellings combined
17
babies in 2025
#24
best rank (1990)
8,537
babies since 1964
Up 10
10-year rank change
Ian through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #255 |
| 2024 | 15 | #269 |
| 2023 | 18 | #237 |
| 2022 | 13 | #320 |
| 2021 | 17 | #262 |
| 2020 | 11 | #350 |
| 2019 | 21 | #228 |
| 2018 | 15 | #287 |
| 2017 | 18 | #263 |
| 2016 | 13 | #329 |
| 2015 | 18 | #265 |
| 2014 | 15 | #302 |
| 2013 | 17 | #276 |
| 2012 | 18 | #267 |
| 2011 | 16 | #289 |
| 2010 | 19 | #262 |
| 2009 | 33 | #173 |
| 2008 | 38 | #169 |
| 2007 | 26 | #190 |
| 2006 | 38 | #141 |
| 2005 | 46 | #119 |
| 2004 | 37 | #131 |
| 2003 | 56 | #97 |
| 2002 | 73 | #78 |
| 2001 | 65 | #87 |
| 2000 | 70 | #78 |
| 1999 | 90 | #64 |
| 1998 | 90 | #62 |
| 1997 | 145 | #55 |
| 1996 | 182 | #47 |
| 1995 | 142 | #53 |
| 1994 | 199 | #41 |
| 1993 | 208 | #39 |
| 1992 | 223 | #35 |
| 1991 | 249 | #34 |
| 1990 | 297 | #24 |
| 1989 | 296 | #29 |
| 1988 | 278 | #33 |
| 1987 | 340 | #28 |
| 1986 | 341 | #30 |
| 1985 | 279 | #35 |
| 1984 | 283 | #36 |
| 1983 | 267 | #41 |
| 1982 | 289 | #39 |
| 1981 | 239 | #47 |
| 1980 | 271 | #45 |
| 1979 | 273 | #37 |
| 1978 | 264 | #36 |
| 1977 | 314 | #32 |
| 1976 | 287 | #33 |
| 1975 | 245 | #39 |
| 1974 | 239 | #43 |
| 1973 | 216 | #45 |
| 1972 | 189 | #48 |
| 1971 | 162 | #53 |
| 1970 | 147 | #50 |
| 1969 | 140 | #45 |
| 1968 | 145 | #44 |
| 1967 | 138 | #47 |
| 1966 | 131 | #48 |
| 1965 | 110 | #54 |
| 1964 | 86 | #62 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ian mean?
A form of John, which means "God is gracious"
Scottish, an English spelling of the Scottish Gaelic Iain, the local form of John.
Say it right
EEan
A few people say EYE-an, but EE-an is usual in Ireland and Britain.
The story of Ian
Ian is the Scottish version of John. In Scottish Gaelic the name is Iain, and Ian is the simpler spelling that spread through English. Like John, it goes back to a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious”. The Irish form of the same name is Eoin, so Ian is a close cousin of a very familiar Irish name.
It began in Scotland and became common across the English-speaking world during the twentieth century.
In Ireland Ian was a solid middle-ranking name for decades. Its biggest year was 1986, with 341 boys, and it reached number 24 in 1990. It has been much quieter since the 2000s, and 17 boys were named Ian in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 118 in 1999.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ian (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ian
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ian | 17 | 8,537 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #118 (1999); 117 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.