Ian - wikipedia Ian This article is about a given name. For other uses, see Ian ( disambiguation ). Ian Pronunciation / ˈiːən / Scottish Gaelic : ( ˈiaɲ ) Gender Male Origin Word / name Scottish Gaelic, from Hebrew Yohanan Other names Related names John, Evan, Giovanni, Hans, Juan, Hovhannes, Ioan, Ioane, Ivan, Iven, Ifan, Jack, Jackson, Jan, Jane, Janez, Jean, Jhon, Joan, João, Johan / Johann, Johanan, Johannes, Jonne, Jovan, Juhani, Seán, Shane, Siôn, Yahya, Yohannes Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, ultimately derived from Hebrew Yohanan and corresponding to English John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename Iain. It is a very popular name in much of the English - speaking world and especially in Scotland, where it originated. Ian was the 19th most popular male name, taking account of the whole British population ( over 300,000 Ians in total ). The name has now fallen out of the top 100 male baby names in the UK, having peaked in popularity as one of the top 10 names throughout the 1960s, while remaining roughly constant in popularity in the USA. Back in 1900, Ian was the 180th most popular male baby name in England and Wales. Popularity of the name ' Ian ' in the USA Year Rank 2015 76 2014 77 2013 80 2012 78 2011 72 72 2009 72 2008 80 2007 74 2006 80 2005 67 69 2003 65 2002 67 70 2000 73 Note : Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth. Name data are from Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States. Source : Social Security Administration. See http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames Other Gaelic forms of `` John '' include `` Seonaidh '' ( `` Johnny '' from Lowland Scots ), `` Seon '' ( from English ), `` Seathan '', and `` Seán '' and `` Eoin '' ( from Irish ). Its Welsh counterpart is Ioan and Breton equivalent is Yann. Contents 1 Notable Ians 1.1 As a first name ( alphabetical by family name ) 1.2 As a middle name 1.3 As a surname 2 Notable Iains 3 Fictional Iains 4 Fictional Ians 5 See also 6 References Notable Ians As a first name ( alphabetical by family name ) Ian Anderson -- lead of rock band Jethro Tull Ian Astbury -- singer of rock band The Cult Ian Bairnson -- guitarist of The Alan Parsons Project and Pilot Ian Baker - Finch -- golfer and 1991 British Open winner Ian Bannen -- British actor Ian Willoughby Bazalgette -- recipient of the Victoria Cross Ian Bell -- English cricketer Ian Berry ( disambiguation ) Sir Ian Blair -- former Head of the Metropolitan Police Service Ian Black ( disambiguation ) Sir Ian Botham -- cricketer Ian Bolton -- English footballer Ian Brady -- Moors murderer Ian Bremmer -- political scientist, author, entrepreneur Ian Broudie -- singer in The Lightning Seeds, and music producer Ian Brown -- singer and lyricist in The Stone Roses Ian Callaghan -- Liverpool footballer with the most appearances Ian Callum -- Design director for Jaguar Ian Cameron ( disambiguation ) Ian Carmichael -- OBE, actor Ian Cashmore -- broadcaster / presenter and paranormal investigator Ian Chappell -- Former Australian cricketer Ian Charleson -- Scottish / British actor Ian Clark ( disambiguation ) Ian Clyde -- boxer Ian Cole - hockey player Ian Collier -- singer and actor Ian Cooper ( disambiguation ) Ian James Corlett -- cartoon writer and voice actor Ian Crocker -- swimmer Ian Curtis -- singer and lyricist in Joy Division Ian Davis ( disambiguation ) Ian Davidson ( disambiguation ) Ian Desmond -- Major League Baseball shortstop Ian Dury -- singer and songwriter Ian Eagle -- American sports announcer Ian Edmond -- swimmer Ian Ferguson ( disambiguation ) Ian Flanagan -- tennis player Ian Fleming -- Novelist, creator of James Bond Ian Froman -- South African - born Israeli tennis player and tennis patron Ian Frazier -- writer and humorist Ian Greig - Former English cricketer and brother of Tony Greig Ian Gibson ( disambiguation ) Ian Gillan -- lead singer of hard rock band Deep Purple Ian Gleed DSO DFC, English Royal Air Force flying ace and one of the Few Ian Gold -- former American football player Ian Gomm -- British guitarist and singer Ian Grist -- British politician Ian Hallard - actor Ian Hamilton ( disambiguation ) Ian Harding -- actor Ian Hart -- actor Ian Haugland -- Drummer for the band Europe Ian Healy -- Former Australian Wicket - Keeper Ian Hecox -- comedian with Smosh Ian Henderson ( Britain ) -- former head of secret police in Bahrain, accused of torture Ian Henderson ( ABC ) -- Australian news presenter Ian Henderson ( football ) -- current Norwich City F.C. player in the FA Premier League Ian Henderson ( rugby league ) -- Scottish rugby hooker who plays in Australia Ian Hennessy -- Irish soccer player Ian Hicks ( disambiguation ) Ian Hill -- Bassist for metal band Judas Priest Ian Hislop -- Satirist and editor of Private Eye Ian Holm ( born 1931 ) -- British actor Ian Hornak -- painter Ian Hunter -- singer of Mott the Hoople Ian Huntley -- double murderer Ian Jacobs - Australian kickboxer and former 3 time World Kickboxing Champion Ian Jacobs - English academic, gynaecological oncologist, gynaecologist / obstetrician Ian James -- Olympic athlete Ian Jones - Quartey -- Animator Ian Joyce -- American soccer player Ian Kahn - American Actor Ian Kennedy -- Major League Baseball pitcher Ian Kershaw -- historian Ian Kinsler -- Major League Baseball second baseman Ian `` Lemmy '' Kilmister -- singer / bass player in Motörhead Ian Krankie -- entertainer Ian Lambert -- educator Ian Laperrière -- hockey player Ian Lavender -- actor Ian Law -- Australian footballer Ian Oswald Liddell -- recipient of the Victoria Cross Ian Livingstone -- author Ian Lorimer -- television director Ian Lucas -- politician Ian MacArthur -- politician Ian MacDonald - author Ian MacKaye -- musician Ian Mahinmi -- basketball player Ian Martin ( disambiguation ) Ian Matthews -- member of Fairport Convention and notable solo musician, reverted in 1989 to Iain Matthews Ian Matthews -- drummer for Kasabian Ian Maxtone - Graham -- television writer and producer Ian McCaskill -- weather forecaster Ian McConville -- webcomic artist of Mac Hall and Three Panel Soul Ian McCulloch -- actor Ian McCulloch -- singer in the band Echo & the Bunnymen Ian McCulloch -- snooker player Ian McDiarmid -- actor Ian McDonald -- British musician, best known for being a member of both King Crimson and Foreigner Ian McEwan -- novelist Ian John McKay -- recipient of the Victoria Cross Sir Ian McKellen ( born 1939 ) -- actor Ian McLagan -- English musician, best known for being a member of both Small Faces and Faces Ian McMillan -- poet Ian McMillan -- Scottish footballer Ian McShane -- actor Ian Messiter -- creator of Just a Minute Ian Moran -- American hockey player Ian Moran -- Australian cricketer Ian Morris -- Irish professional footballer Ian Morrison ( disambiguation ) Ian Morton - English cricketer Ian Mosley -- drummer for Marillion Ian Moss - Australian musician, Cold Chisel Ian Murdock -- computer professional, creator of the Debian project Ian O'Brien -- swimmer Ian O'Reilly, Irish actor Ian Paice -- drummer of Deep Purple Ian Paisley -- Protestant politician Ian Patterson -- English footballer Ian Peck -- English cricketer Ian Pooley -- German DJ Ian Poulter -- English professional golfer Ian Punnett - American radio broadcaster and priest Ian Rankin -- Scottish novelist Ian Reed -- Australian discus thrower Ian Reid ( disambiguation ) Ian Richards ( disambiguation ) Ian Richardson -- Scottish actor Ian Robinson ( disambiguation ) Ian Ross ( disambiguation ) Ian Rush -- Welsh international footballer Ian Sanders - cricketer for Edinburgh, Scotland Ian Sangalang - Filipino professional basketball player Ian Scheckter -- former South African F1 driver. He is brother of Jody Scheckter and uncle of Tomas Scheckter. Ian Scott ( disambiguation ) Ian Smith ( disambiguation ) Ian Smith -- ex Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Snell -- Major League Baseball pitcher Ian Somerhalder -- actor Ian Stanley -- British musician Ian Stewart ( disambiguation ) Ian Stone -- comedian Ian Stuart Donaldson -- vocalist and frontman of controversial British band Skrewdriver Ian Svenonius -- American musician Ian Thornley -- Canadian musician Ian Thorpe -- Australian swimmer Ian Thomson ( disambiguation ) Ian `` Sam '' Totman -- British guitarist Ian Van Dahl -- Belgian artist Ian Walker -- British sailor Ian Waltz -- American discus thrower Ian Watkins ( born 1977 ), former lead singer of the alternative metal band Lostprophets, and convicted pedophile. Ian H Watkins ( born 1976 ), British pop singer and actor, former member of Steps Ian Weatherhead -- English watercolor artist Ian West -- politician Ian Wilmut -- English embryologist, best known for cloning Dolly the sheep Ian Wilson ( disambiguation ) Ian Wood ( disambiguation ) Ian Woosnam -- Welsh golfer Ian Wright -- footballer Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa -- Birth name of musician Dweezil Zappa Ian Ziering -- actor As a middle name Michael Ian Black -- ( often credited by his full name ), American comedian Richard Ian Cox -- Welsh - Canadian actor, voice actor, and radio host Thomas Ian Nicholas -- Actor and singer As a surname Janis Ian -- singer and songwriter Scott Ian -- stage name of Scott Ian Rosenfeld, guitarist with the metal band Anthrax Notable Iains Iain Archer -- Northern Irish Singer - songwriter musician Iain Balshaw -- MBE, English rugby player Iain Banks -- Scottish writer Iain Black -- British Columbia politician Iain De Caestecker -- Scottish actor Iain Dowie -- Northern Irish football manager Iain Durrant -- Scottish footballer Iain Evans -- South African field hockey player Iain Glen -- Scottish actor, noted for his role in TV 's Game of Thrones Iain Gray -- Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament Iain Harnden -- Zimbabwean hurdler Iain Kay -- Zimbabwean farmer and politician Iain Lee -- British comedian, TV presenter and radio presenter Iain Macleod -- British politician Iain Macmillan -- Scottish photographer, noted for his image of the Beatles walking across Abbey Road Iain David McGeachy -- birth name of John Martyn, British singer - songwriter and guitarist Iain Paxton -- Scottish rugby player Iain Smith -- Scottish politician Iain Duncan Smith -- Leader of the Conservative Party, 2001 -- 2003 Iain Softley -- film director Iain Stirling -- Scottish TV presenter and comedian Iain Stewart ( disambiguation ) Iain Sydie -- Canadian badminton player Iain Torrance -- President of Princeton Theological Seminary and former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Fictional Iains Iain Sterling, a fictional character in the Android : Netrunner universe Iain Dean, a fictional character in the Casualty Central universe Fictional Ians Ian -- from Shane Jiraiya Cummings ' short story, `` Ian ''. Every male character who the protagonist meets is called Ian Ian -- from Sarah Kane 's play, Blasted Ian -- from Leprechaun 2 Ian - the protagonist in the manga Not Simple by Natsume Ono Ian Beale -- from the TV soap opera EastEnders Ian Chesterton -- from the TV series Doctor Who Ian Craig -- from the radio soap opera The Archers Ian the Deer -- Elliot 's arch - rival in the Open Season movies Ian Doyle -- an Irish terrorist featured on Criminal Minds Ian Edgerton -- FBI agent and sniper from the show Numb3rs Ian Gallagher -- one of the main characters in the television drama, Shameless Ian Hainsworth - Susan Delfino 's boyfriend in 3rd season of Desperate Housewives Ian Hawke -- the main antagonist in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies Ian Howe -- an antagonist in National Treasure Ian Kabra -- antagonist of The 39 Clues book series Ian Kelley -- title character from the Canadian animated series Being Ian Ian Lewis and Ian Ketterman ( together with dozens of other Ians ) -- characters created by Lee and Herring ; the duo used ' Ian ' as their de facto comedy name, in such sketches as the Ian News Ian Malcolm -- from Michael Crichton 's novel Jurassic Park Ian ( MÄR ) -- a recurring character in the manga and anime series MÄR Ian Maxtone - Graham -- from the TV series Suddenly Susan Professor Ian McClaine -- adoptive father of Joe 90 Ian McKenzie -- the liberal attorney from the novel and the film A Dry White Season Ian McKinley -- from the movie Final Destination 3 Ian Miller -- from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding Ian Murray - The nephew of Jamie Fraser in Diana Gabaldon 's Outlander series Ian O'Shea -- from Stephenie Meyer 's novel, The Host Ian Papov - character and member of the Demolition Boys ( also known as the Blitzkrieg Boys ) from the anime series Beyblade ( 2000 ) Ian Randall -- from the Smallville episodes `` Dichotic '' and `` Asylum '', a character who had the ability to duplicate himself Ian Raymond -- Laura 's boyfriend in the novel and film, High Fidelity Ian Rider -- From the Alex Rider books Ian Schulenburg -- Unseen husband of Harriet Schulenburg in Green Wing Ian Scuffling -- Tyrone Slothrup 's adopted name after he goes into hiding in Thomas Pynchon 's Gravity 's Rainbow Ian Slater -- from the ABC soap opera All My Children Ian Thomas - Ryan Merriman 's character in the TV series Pretty Little Liars. See also John ( given name ) Eoin Ioan ( disambiguation ) IANS ( disambiguation ) References Jump up ^ `` Dictionary Detail - Iain ''. www.faclair.com. Retrieved 21 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` Name : Ian ''. BabyNames.co.uk. Baby Names UK. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Top 200 Most Popular Names in England and Wales in 1900 ''. British Baby Names. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 01. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ian&oldid=827225836 '' Categories : Scottish masculine given names Given names English masculine given names Masculine given names Irish masculine given names Welsh masculine given names Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2008 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch 日本 語 Norsk Русский Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 23 February 2018, at 14 : 14. 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Question: where does the first name ian come from
Answer: Scottish Gaelic origin, ultimately derived from Hebrew Yohanan and corresponding to English John