Contribute your knowledge to the name Ian

Comments and insights on the name Ian: | Edit

We used a Gaelic variation for our son's name: Iain. I love how it looks, and it enforces the 2-syllable pronunciation. We've been happy with the choice. Although we do have to spell it out for people, I think these days you have to spell out almost every name anyway.

He get "eye-on" a lot.

I've heard "eye-in" or "in" more times than I can count.
If not understood properly the first time, I've had people call him "Eden."

Personal experiences with the name Ian: | Edit

It sounds great with Scottish / Irish surnames.

I named my son Ian after my uncle, who used "Ian" as his pseudo name in his written work. I have issues with my hispanic, non-english speaking family pronouncing it. They OVERpronounce the name. It almost sounds like "EEEEEE-ANG"!

Nicknames for Ian: | Edit

"E", E-E, I ain't, Big-E, Ham*

*When attempting to text "Ian" with a number pad on a cell phone, auto complete systems regularly suggest "Ham."

Meanings and history of the name Ian: | Edit

Ian is a modern Scottish form of the name John. It was not used in Scotland until the late nineteenth century, though it has since become quite popular throughout the English-speaking world.

Many Armenian surnames end in -ian (such as Kardashian), as "ian" (or "yan") means "son of" in Armenian.

Famous real-life people named Ian: | Edit

Ian Somerhalder - American actor
Ian Harding - American actor
Ian Anthony Dale - American actor
Ian Ziering - American actor (but he pronounces it "Eye-an")

Ian in song, story & screen: | Edit

Ian Bedlow- Main Character in Anne Tyler's Saint Maybe
Ian Malcolm- mathematician in the "Jurassic Park" films and novels
Ian Miller- Toula's non-Greek fiance in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
Ian Campbell - The Onion's Fields by Joseph Wambaugh
Ian - from 2007 film Alvin and the Chipmunks
Ian Howe - an antagonist in National Treasure
Ian McKinley - from the movie Final Destination 3
Ian Raymond - Laura's boyfriend in the novel and film, High Fidelity
Ian - from Shane Jiraiya Cummings' short story, "Ian". (Every male character who the protagonist meets is called Ian.)
Ian O'Shea- From Meyer's "The Host"