Boy name · Hebrew
Ivan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: God is graciousIvan is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in Russian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- ee-VAHN
Meaning and origin of Ivan
As a boy's name, Ivan comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in Russian and Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Iván.
Say it ee-VAHN. In Spanish, say ee-BAHN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ivan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ivan on 5 lists.
“Russian form of John, sturdy and serious”
From Boy dog names, strong male dog names
“God is gracious; Hebrew. Russian form of John. Say ee-VAHN”
From Classic boy names, classic boy names from around the world
“God is gracious; Hebrew. Russian form of John. Say ee-VAHN”
From Old man names, grandpa names from around the world
“God is gracious; Hebrew, the Russian John. Diminutive Vanya. Say ee-VAHN”
From Russian boy names, biblical Russian boy names
“God is gracious; Hebrew. Slavic form of John, long loved in Spain. Say ee-BAHN”
From Spanish boy names, classic male Spanish names
How popular is Ivan?
- US rank in 2025
- #163
- 2,240 babies, 1,311 per million boys
- Best rank
- #113 in 2012
- Most babies: 3,462 in 2004
- Babies since 1880
- At least 150,137
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 267 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 500 per million |
| 1900s | 611 per million |
| 1910s | 739 per million |
| 1920s | 692 per million |
| 1930s | 547 per million |
| 1940s | 328 per million |
| 1950s | 264 per million |
| 1960s | 330 per million |
| 1970s | 425 per million |
| 1980s | 612 per million |
| 1990s | 1,053 per million |
| 2000s | 1,539 per million |
| 2010s | 1,591 per million |
| 2020s | 1,359 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131 | #135 | #133 | #140 | #153 | #168 | #159 | #153 | #153 | #163 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Ivan
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Vanyacommon Russian nickname
Other forms of Ivan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ElchananGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- EoinGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- EvanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GianniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GiannisGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GiovanniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- HannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- HansGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IainGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IantoGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IbanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Ivan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- MilanGracious, dear; a short form of Slavic Mil- names (Slavic, unisex)
- MilaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
- JackGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JanaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JohannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JohannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- MilenaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
- GiaPet form of Gianna, God is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- GiannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Ivan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Ivan: common questions
What does the name Ivan mean?
Ivan comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious".
Is Ivan a boy or girl name?
Ivan is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Ivan?
Common nicknames for Ivan include Vanya.
How do you pronounce Ivan?
Say ee-VAHN. In Spanish, say ee-BAHN. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Ivan?
Ivan ranked #163 in the US in 2025, with 2,240 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ivan?
Forms of Ivan with the same meaning and origin include Elchanan (Hebrew), Eoin (Irish), Evan (English), Gianni (Italian) and Giannis (Greek).
What middle names go with Ivan?
Middle names that flow well with Ivan include Atticus, Bradley, Burton, Christopher and Emmett. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.