Names that start with I
These 193 I names run from Iain to Izz ad-Din, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Isabella, Isla and Isaac.
Isidro
Gift of Isis (Greek). No. 1,815 in the US in 2025, 88 babies.
BoySpanish
From the island of Islay (Scottish place name). No. 5,307 in the US in 2025, 24 babies.
UnisexScottish
Iman
Faith, belief (Arabic). No. 1,798 in the US in 2025, 180 babies. Given to both: 51% girls.
UnisexArabicRising
Ilias
My God is Yahweh (Hebrew). No. 2,316 in the US in 2025, 60 babies.
BoyGreek
Ihyeon
Benefit and virtue (depends on hanja) (Korean)
BoyKorean
ʻIolani
Royal hawk (Hawaiian). No. 15,817 in the US in 2025, 5 babies.
UnisexHawaiian
Inbar
Amber (Hebrew)
GirlHebrew
Ippokratis
Horse power (Greek)
BoyGreek
Immanuel
God with us (Hebrew). No. 1,207 in the US in 2025, 168 babies.
BoyGerman
Iraj
Iranian (Avestan)
BoyPersian
Most popular names starting with I in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | For | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | Isabella | 10,666 | Girls | Steady | God is my oath |
| #28 | Isla | 6,012 | Girls | Rising | from the island of Islay |
| #47 | Isaac | 5,953 | Boys | Steady | he will laugh |
| #57 | Isaiah | 5,267 | Boys | Steady | Yahweh is salvation |
| #39 | Ivy | 5,117 | Girls | Rising | ivy plant |
| #83 | Ian | 3,924 | Boys | Steady | God is gracious |
| #61 | Iris | 3,729 | Girls | Rising | a rainbow |
| #163 | Ivan | 2,240 | Boys | Steady | God is gracious |
| #166 | Isabelle | 1,825 | Girls | Falling | God is my oath |
| #177 | Isabel | 1,746 | Girls | Steady | God is my oath |
| #263 | Ismael | 1,307 | Boys | Steady | God will hear |
| #315 | Israel | 1,081 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #351 | Ibrahim | 939 | Boys | Steady | father of many nations |
| #359 | Itzel | 850 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #390 | Iker | 815 | Boys | Falling | visitation |
| #378 | Ivory | 810 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #426 | Isaias | 755 | Boys | Steady | salvation of Yahweh |
| #525 | Iyla | 572 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #564 | Izabella | 532 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #567 | Ivanna | 530 | Girls | Steady | God is gracious |
| #579 | Imani | 512 | Girls | Steady | faith, belief |
| #634 | Indie | 459 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #651 | Irene | 442 | Girls | Steady | peace, tranquility |
| #635 | Izaiah | 439 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #664 | Isabela | 426 | Girls | Steady | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
I names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with I, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Girls
- Share of girls, 2025
- 2.9%
- Place among 26 letters
- 12th
- Different I names
- 414
- In the top 1,000
- 21
Share of girls with an I name: 0.6% in 1950, 1.4% in 2000, and 2.9% in 2025.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 1.8%
- Place among 26 letters
- 18th
- Different I names
- 255
- In the top 1,000
- 20
Share of boys with an I name: 0.2% in 1950, 1.7% in 2000, and 1.8% in 2025.
I names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Irenepeace, tranquility (Greek)
- Irisa rainbow (Greek)
- Isaache will laugh (Hebrew)
- Ibrahimfather of many nations (Hebrew)
- IsabelGod is my oath (Hebrew)
- IsabellaGod is my oath (Hebrew)
- IanGod is gracious (Hebrew)
- Idawork, industrious (Germanic)
- Inganamed for Ing, a Germanic god (Old Norse)
- Irmawhole, great (Germanic)
- Isadoragift of Isis (Greek)
- IsmailGod will hear (Hebrew)
- Iantheviolet flower (Greek)
- IbanGod is gracious (Hebrew)
- Ilantree (Hebrew)
- IlseGod is my oath (Hebrew)
- Imeldagreat battle (Germanic)
- Inezpure, chaste (Greek)
Where these names come from
- Hebrew: 52
- Greek: 23
- Germanic: 12
- Old Norse: 12
- Basque: 11
- Arabic: 10
- Japanese: 10
- Latin: 9
All 193 names that start with I
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iain | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iakopa | supplanter | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iakovos | supplanter, holder of the heel | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ian | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ianthe | violet flower | Greek | Girl |
| Ianto | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iara | lady of the water | Tupi | Girl |
| Iasmim | jasmine flower | Persian | Girl |
| Iason | healer | Greek | Boy |
| Ibai | river | Basque | Boy |
| Iban | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ibrahim | father of many nations | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ibtisam | a smile | Arabic | Girl |
| Ichabod | no glory | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ichika | one flower (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Ichiro | first son | Japanese | Boy |
| Ida | work, industrious | Germanic | Girl |
| Idan | era | Hebrew | Boy |
| Idowu | child born after twins | Yoruba | Unisex |
| Idris | ardent lord | Welsh | Boy |
| Iestyn | Welsh form of Justin | Latin | Boy |
| Ieuan | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ieyasu | house and peace | Japanese | Boy |
| Ife | love | Yoruba | Unisex |
| Ifeanyi | nothing is impossible with God | Igbo | Boy |
| Ifeoluwa | God's love | Yoruba | Unisex |
| Ifeoma | good thing, beautiful thing | Igbo | Girl |
| Ifunanya | love | Igbo | Girl |
| Iga | short form of Jadwiga or Ignacja | Polish | Girl |
| Ige | born feet first | Yoruba | Unisex |
| Ignacio | from the Roman family name Egnatius | Latin | Boy |
| Igor | warrior of the god Ing | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ihsan | charity, good deeds | Arabic | Boy |
| Ihyeon | benefit and virtue (depends on hanja) | Korean | Boy |
| Ijeoma | good journey | Igbo | Girl |
| Ijun | benefit and talent (depends on hanja) | Korean | Boy |
| Ikaia | God is salvation | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ikaika | strong, powerful | Hawaiian | Boy |
| Ike | he will laugh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ikechukwu | power of God | Igbo | Boy |
| Ikenna | father's strength | Igbo | Boy |
| Iker | visitation | Basque | Boy |
| Ilan | tree | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ilana | tree, from Hebrew ilan | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ilanit | tree | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ilargi | the moon | Basque | Girl |
| Ilaria | cheerful, joyful | Latin | Girl |
| Ilario | cheerful | Latin | Boy |
| Ildefonso | battle ready | Germanic | Boy |
| Ilgın | tamarisk tree | Turkish | Unisex |
| Ilham | inspiration | Arabic | Girl |
| Ilias | my God is Yahweh | Hebrew | Boy |
| ʻIlima | golden native flower | Hawaiian | Girl |
| İlkay | new moon | Turkish | Unisex |
| İlknur | first light | Turkish | Girl |
| Ilse | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ilya | my God is Yahweh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ilyas | my God is the Lord | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iman | faith, belief | Arabic | Unisex |
| Imani | faith, belief | Swahili | Girl |
| Imara | firm, strong | Swahili | Girl |
| Imelda | great battle | Germanic | Girl |
| Imke | whole, great | Germanic | Girl |
| Immacolata | immaculate | Latin | Girl |
| Immanuel | God with us | Hebrew | Boy |
| Inar | spark | Basque | Boy |
| Inas | friendliness | Arabic | Girl |
| Inbar | amber | Hebrew | Girl |
| İnci | a pearl | Turkish | Girl |
| Inderjit | conqueror of Indra | Punjabi | Unisex |
| Indigo | from India | Greek | Unisex |
| Indu | moon | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Indumathi | full moon | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Ines | pure, chaste | Greek | Unisex |
| Inessa | chaste, pure | Greek | Girl |
| Inez | pure, chaste | Greek | Girl |
| Inga | named for Ing, a Germanic god | Old Norse | Girl |
| Inge | from Ing, a Germanic god | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ingeborg | Ing's protection | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ingo | from Ing, an old Germanic god | Germanic | Boy |
| Ingolf | Ing's wolf | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ingrid | Ing is beautiful | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ingunn | Ing and to love | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ingvar | Ing's warrior | Old Norse | Boy |
| Inken | Ing's help | Old Norse | Girl |
| Inmaculada | immaculate | Latin | Girl |
| Innokenty | innocent | Latin | Boy |
| Inocencia | innocence | Latin | Girl |
| Inocencio | innocent | Latin | Boy |
| Inti | sun | Quechua | Boy |
| Ioanna | God is gracious | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ioannis | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iokepa | he will add | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iokua | God is salvation | Hebrew | Boy |
| Iolana | to soar, to fly high | Hawaiian | Girl |
| ʻIolani | royal hawk | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Iole | violet | Greek | Girl |
| Iomhar | yew warrior | Old Norse | Boy |
| Iona | from the island of Iona | Scottish place name | Girl |
| Ionatán | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ione | violet flower | Greek | Girl |
| Iori | weave (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Iorwerth | handsome lord | Welsh | Boy |
| Iosif | he will add | Hebrew | Boy |
| İpek | silk, silken | Turkish | Girl |
| Iphigenia | strong-born | Greek | Girl |
| Ippokratis | horse power | Greek | Boy |
| Ira | watchful | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Iracema | honey lips | Tupi | Girl |
| Iraci | honey and mother | Tupi | Girl |
| Iraj | Iranian | Avestan | Boy |
| Iraklis | glory of Hera | Greek | Boy |
| Irati | fern field | Basque | Girl |
| İrem | Iram, a city in the Quran | Arabic | Girl |
| Irena | peace, from Greek Eirene | Greek | Girl |
| Irene | peace, tranquility | Greek | Unisex |
| Irénée | peaceful | Greek | Boy |
| Ireneo | peaceful | Greek | Boy |
| Ireneusz | peaceful | Greek | Boy |
| Ireti | hope | Yoruba | Unisex |
| Irfan | knowledge, awareness | Arabic | Boy |
| Irina | peace, from Greek Eirene | Greek | Girl |
| Irini | peace | Greek | Girl |
| Iris | a rainbow | Greek | Unisex |
| Irit | asphodel flower | Hebrew | Girl |
| Irma | whole, great | Germanic | Girl |
| Irmak | river | Turkish | Girl |
| Irmgard | whole enclosure | Germanic | Girl |
| Irmtraud | great strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Iroha | colorful leaves (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Irving | green water | Brythonic | Boy |
| Isa | God is my oath | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Isaac | he will laugh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isabeau | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Isabel | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Isabella | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Isabelle | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Isadora | gift of Isis | Greek | Girl |
| Isaiah | Yahweh is salvation | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isaías | salvation of Yahweh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isak | he will laugh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isamu | courage, bravery | Japanese | Boy |
| Isao | merit, achievement (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Iscah | to behold | Hebrew | Girl |
| Iseabail | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Iseo | joyful and auspicious (depends on hanja) | Korean | Girl |
| Iseul | dew, morning dew | Korean | Girl |
| Isha | ruler, lord | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Ishaan | ruler, lord | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ishani | ruling or possessing | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Ishaq | he will laugh | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ishbel | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ishita | supremacy | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Ishmael | God will hear | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isidora | gift of Isis | Greek | Girl |
| Isidoros | gift of Isis | Greek | Boy |
| Isidro | gift of Isis | Greek | Boy |
| Işık | light | Turkish | Unisex |
| Işıl | shining, sparkling | Turkish | Girl |
| Isla | from the island of Islay | Scottish place name | Girl |
| Islay | from the island of Islay | Scottish place name | Unisex |
| Islwyn | below the grove | Welsh | Boy |
| Ismael | God will hear | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ismail | God will hear | Hebrew | Boy |
| Isobel | God is my oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Isra | night journey | Arabic | Girl |
| Itai | with me | Hebrew | Boy |
| Itamar | date palm island | Hebrew | Boy |
| Itri | a star | Berber | Boy |
| Itsaso | sea, ocean | Basque | Girl |
| Itsuki | tree | Japanese | Boy |
| Itxaro | hope, waiting | Basque | Girl |
| Itzal | shadow | Basque | Girl |
| Itzcóatl | obsidian serpent | Nahuatl | Boy |
| Itziar | from a Basque village with a shrine to the Virgin Mary | Basque | Girl |
| Ivan | God is gracious | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Ivana | God is gracious | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ivanna | God is gracious | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ivar | bow warrior | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ivete | yew | Germanic | Girl |
| Ivo | yew | Germanic | Boy |
| Ivonne | yew | Germanic | Girl |
| Ivor | yew warrior | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ivy | ivy plant | Old English | Girl |
| ʻIwalani | heavenly frigatebird | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Iwao | rock, boulder | Japanese | Boy |
| Iwona | yew | Germanic | Girl |
| Iyad | strength, support | Arabic | Boy |
| Izabela | my God is an oath | Hebrew | Girl |
| Izar | a star | Basque | Unisex |
| Izaro | island | Basque | Girl |
| Izumi | fountain, spring, written 泉 | Japanese | Unisex |
| Izz ad-Din | glory of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names that start with I?
The most popular names starting with I in the US are Isabella (#7 for girls), Isla (#28 for girls), Isaac (#47 for boys), Isaiah (#57 for boys), Ivy (#39 for girls), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many names start with I?
In 2025, 414 different girl names starting with I were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 21 of them were in the top 1,000. In 2025, 255 different boy names starting with I were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 20 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 193 with their meaning and origin.
How common are girl names that start with I?
2.9% of US girls born in 2025 have a name starting with I, making it the 12th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 0.6%.
How common are boy names that start with I?
1.8% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with I, making it the 18th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 0.2%.
Where do names starting with I come from?
The most common origins on this list are Hebrew (52), Greek (23), Germanic (12).