Ian

Meaning of Ian

Ian means "God is gracious." It's the Scottish version of the name John.

Ian has Scottish roots — browse every Scottish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Ian

Ian has held fairly steady, sitting around #83 in 2025 after peaking at #65 in 2003.

Notable people named Ian

• Sir Ian McKellen
  Actor, known for roles
• Ian Somerhalder
  Actor, The Vampire Diaries
• Ian Fleming
  Author, James Bond creator
• Ian Poulter
  Professional golfer
• Ian Thorpe
  Australian swimmer, Olympian

More Scottish names

Questions about the name Ian

What does the name Ian mean?

Ian means ian means "god is gracious." it's the scottish version of the name john, and it comes from Scottish origins.

Is Ian a boy's or a girl's name?

Ian is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Ian?

In 2025, Ian ranked #83 for boys, down from #75 the year before.

When was Ian most popular?

Ian peaked at #65 in 2003.