Baby boy names beginning with I – with origins and meanings
Are you trying to find baby name ideas for a boy that start with the 9th letter of the alphabet? We’ve got some illuminating suggestions, along with their origin and meaning
Read this list if you are looking for popular baby boy names beginning with I. Find out their meaning and origin and decide whether your child could be an Ian, Ignacio or an Ivan
1. Ian
- Origin: Scottish/Gaelic
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Also: Iain, John
2. Ichiro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: first son
3. Idris
- Origin: Welsh/Arabic
- Meaning: fiery lord/the interpreter; the Islamic prophet mentioned in the Qur'an, usually identified with Enoch in the Bible
4. Iggi
- Origin: Eritrean
- Meaning: only son
5. Ignacio
- Origin: Spanish, Galician
- Meaning: fire
6. Ignatius
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: fire, ignite
- Also: Iggy, Inigo, Ignace (French form)
7. Igor
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: a name much used in Russia
8. Ijay
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Lord Vishnu
9. Ikesh
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: unique
10. Immanuel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is with us
- Also: Emmanuel
11. Inderjit
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: conqueror of the god Indra
12. Ingemar
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: son of Ing
- Also: Ingmar, Inge
13. Ingram
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: angel raven; a surname used as a first name
14. Iniko
- Origin: Nigerian
- Meaning: born during troubled times
15. Innes
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: island
- Also: Inness
16. Iorwerth
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: a nobleman of worth
- Also: Iolo, Iolyn
17. Ira
- Origin: Aramaic
- Meaning: watchful
18. Irvine
- Origin: Scottish
- Derived from the area of river Irvine in Scotland
- Also: Irving
19. Irwin
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: friend of the boars
20. Isaac
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: laughter
- Also: Izaak, Ike
21. Isaiah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Jehovah is generous
22. Ishaan
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: the sun
23. Ishmael
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God listens
- Also: Ismail
24. Isidore
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: probably a gift
25. Israel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: may God prevail
- Also: Izzy
26. Issa
- Origin: Swahili
- Meaning: God is salvation
27. Istvan
- Origin: Hungarian
- Meaning: crown
- Also: Stephen
28. Itamar
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: palm grove
29. Ivaan
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: the Sun, the ruler
30. Ivan
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: gift from God
- Also: John
31. Ivor
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: archer, warrior with a bow
- Also: Ifor (Welsh form)
About our author Catherine Ball
Catherine Ball is a freelance journalist who specialises in writing about parenting and health. She has been a journalist for 20 years, writing for a wide range of regional and national publications. She is also mum to 4 children between the ages 3 and 12, so has drawn up many, many lists of baby names over the past few years.
Illustration: Emma Winchester
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