Ian
Boy name · #83 in 2025 · Well-known
In 2025, 3,924 baby boys were named Ian, placing it at #83 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #76, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 459 boys born in 2025 was named Ian.
Babies named Ian per year. Source: SSA.
The 113-year story
Ian first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 6,688 boys were named Ian — good for #68 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Ian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ian is most common in NJ (4.4 per 1,000), MD (4.2 per 1,000), NM (4.2 per 1,000), RI (3.5 per 1,000), HI (3.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ian
Statistically, parents drawn to Ian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Adrian, Ivan, Christian, Damian, and Nathan.
AdrianIvanChristianDamianNathanEvanJuanLogan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,924 | #83 |
| 2024 | 4,560 | #74 |
| 2023 | 4,555 | #69 |
| 2022 | 4,505 | #72 |
| 2021 | 4,302 | #81 |
| 2020 | 4,267 | #83 |
| 2019 | 4,551 | #81 |
| 2018 | 4,706 | #79 |
| 2017 | 5,033 | #76 |
| 2016 | 5,079 | #78 |
| 2015 | 5,332 | #76 |
| 2014 | 5,461 | #77 |
| 2013 | 5,434 | #80 |
| 2012 | 5,696 | #78 |
| 2011 | 5,620 | #72 |
| 2010 | 5,563 | #72 |
| 2009 | 5,807 | #73 |
| 2008 | 5,723 | #80 |
| 2007 | 6,250 | #75 |
| 2006 | 6,154 | #80 |
| 2005 | 6,688 | #68 |
| 2004 | 6,507 | #69 |
| 2003 | 6,466 | #65 |
| 2002 | 6,360 | #67 |
| 2001 | 6,084 | #70 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ian a popular boy name?
Ian ranked #83 among boys in 2025 with 3,924 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #76.
When was the name Ian most popular?
Ian peaked in 2005, when 6,688 American boys received the name (ranked #68 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 459 newborn American boys was named Ian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.