Ivan
Say it: EYE-van/ˈaɪ.vən/
BoyMeans god is gracious4 letters2 syllables
#348
in Ireland (2025)
#336 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#91
best rank (1969)
1,442
babies since 1964
Down 56
10-year rank change
Ivan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #336 |
| 2024 | 12 | #317 |
| 2023 | 10 | #351 |
| 2022 | 13 | #320 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 19 | #245 |
| 2019 | 12 | #324 |
| 2018 | 11 | #342 |
| 2017 | 24 | #230 |
| 2016 | 14 | #313 |
| 2015 | 16 | #280 |
| 2014 | 19 | #259 |
| 2013 | 11 | #352 |
| 2012 | 11 | #354 |
| 2011 | 27 | #210 |
| 2010 | 16 | #284 |
| 2009 | 17 | #271 |
| 2008 | 14 | #306 |
| 2007 | 24 | #201 |
| 2006 | 15 | #239 |
| 2005 | 21 | #185 |
| 2004 | 12 | #233 |
| 2003 | 25 | #156 |
| 2002 | 22 | #168 |
| 2001 | 7 | #273 |
| 2000 | 12 | #196 |
| 1999 | 8 | #222 |
| 1998 | 10 | #203 |
| 1997 | 10 | #233 |
| 1996 | 15 | #185 |
| 1995 | 10 | #213 |
| 1994 | 8 | #225 |
| 1993 | 15 | #180 |
| 1992 | 16 | #174 |
| 1991 | 11 | #193 |
| 1990 | 11 | #193 |
| 1989 | 17 | #159 |
| 1988 | 17 | #160 |
| 1987 | 19 | #157 |
| 1986 | 25 | #142 |
| 1985 | 25 | #142 |
| 1984 | 23 | #146 |
| 1983 | 33 | #127 |
| 1982 | 34 | #127 |
| 1981 | 27 | #147 |
| 1980 | 43 | #121 |
| 1979 | 35 | #129 |
| 1978 | 44 | #116 |
| 1977 | 54 | #108 |
| 1976 | 46 | #112 |
| 1975 | 48 | #107 |
| 1974 | 51 | #105 |
| 1973 | 51 | #103 |
| 1972 | 59 | #99 |
| 1971 | 55 | #102 |
| 1970 | 46 | #100 |
| 1969 | 59 | #91 |
| 1968 | 34 | #102 |
| 1967 | 21 | #123 |
| 1966 | 23 | #116 |
| 1965 | 18 | #119 |
| 1964 | 11 | #147 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ivan mean?
God is gracious
Slavic form of John, from Greek Iōánnēs and Hebrew Yochanan.
Say it right
EYEvan
Families from Slavic countries and Spain usually say ee-VAHN.
The story of Ivan
Ivan is the form of John used in Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian and other Slavic languages. Like John, it goes back through Greek to a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious”, which makes it a cousin of the Irish Seán and the Welsh Evan. Tsars and princes of Russia bore it, including Ivan the Terrible.
In Ireland it was already in use when the CSO records begin, and English speakers here usually say it EYE-van. Its best year was 1969, with 59 babies and a rank of number 91 in 1969.
It has been given every year since, never in great numbers. In 2025, 11 boys were named Ivan.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ivan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ivan
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan | 11 | 1,442 |
In Northern Ireland
#314 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #263 (2003); 41 babies since 2003.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.