Ian
Ian is a Christian boy name of Scottish Gaelic, from Hebrew origin, meaning “God is gracious”.
| Meaning | God is gracious |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic, from Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | EE-un |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Mexico |
Meaning and origin of Ian
Ian is the anglicised spelling of Iain, the Scottish Gaelic form of John, which ultimately comes from Hebrew Yohanan, 'God is gracious'. It spread beyond Scotland in the twentieth century and was very popular across Britain from the 1940s to the 1970s. Notable bearers include the novelist Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, and actor Sir Ian McKellen. It is also used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Is Ian a Christian name?
As a form of John, Ian carries the Christian legacy of John the Baptist and John the Apostle, though it is not itself a biblical spelling.
How popular is Ian?
Familiar throughout the English-speaking world and popular in Latin America in recent years.
Gifts with the name Ian
- Ian name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Ian baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Ian
Names similar to Ian
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ian mean?
Ian means 'God is gracious'. It is of Scottish Gaelic, from Hebrew origin.
Is Ian a Christian name?
As a form of John, Ian carries the Christian legacy of John the Baptist and John the Apostle, though it is not itself a biblical spelling.
How do you pronounce Ian?
Ian is pronounced EE-un.
Is Ian a boy or girl name?
Ian is usually a boy name.