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Baby Names Starting
with I
IAN: Scottish
version of John. Quite nice, and not as common in the
United States as in other English-speaking countries.
Relatives: Ianna, Ianthe, Iantha, Iain, John. Namesake:
Ian Fleming.
IDA: Possibly Old
German for "youthful." Seldom used these days,
but a nice, old-fashioned choice worth of revival.
Relatives: Idana, Idanna, Idena, Idette, Idalee, Ita.
Namesakes: Princess Ida, Ida Lupino.
IGNATIUS: Latin for
"fiery." Relatives: Iggy, Ignaze, Ignace, Ignatz.
Namesake: Saint Ignatius.
ILANA: Hebrew for
"tree." A melodic and increasingly popular
choice these days. Relatives: Illana, Ilanna, Alana,
Allana, Alanna.
ILSA: Derived from
Elizabeth. This name was immortalized by Ingrid Bergman in
Casablanca. Relatives: Ilse, Ilise, Ilse, Ilisa.
ILYA: A variation of
Elijah.
IMELDA: German for
"battle." Build another closet. Relative: Ymelda.
Namesake: Imelda Marcos.
IMOGENE: Latin for
"image" or "last born." Relative:
Imogen. Namesake: Imogene Coca.
IMRE: Hebrew for
"well-spoken." A good name for a future debater.
Relatives: Imray, Imrie.
INDIA: India has
been a popular girl's name in Great Britain since the
Victorian era. Relatives: Indiana, Indianna, Indy, Indie.
Namesakes: India Wilkes, Robert Indiana, Indy 500,
"Indiana Jones."
INGRAM: German for
"raven." A handsome name. Relatives: Ingraham,
Ingham, Ingrem, Gram, Graham. Namesake: Dan Ingram.
INGRID: Derived from
Ing, the Norse god of fertility. Relatives: Inga, Inge,
Inger, Ingmar, Igor. Namesakes: Ingrid Bergman, Igor
Stravinsky, Inger Stevens.
INNIS: Gaelic for
"island." For boys or girls; different and
distinctive. Relative: Innes. Namesakes: Roy Innes,
Michael Innes.
IRENE: Greek for
"peace." Pretty and not used much these days.
Relatives: Irena, Ireene, Irina. Namesakes: Irene Cara,
Irene Worth.
IRIS: Greek goddess
of the rainbow. A flower name that is making a modest
comeback. Relative: Irys. Namesake: Iris Murdoch.
IRMA: Old German for
"whole." Relatives: Irmin, Erman, Ermingarde,
Irmingarde. Namesakes: Erma Bombeck, "Irma la Douce."
IRVING: From the Old
English for "sea friend." Relatives: Irvin,
Irvine, Irwin, Irwyn. Namesakes: Irving Berlin, Irving
Thalberg, Washington Irving.
ISAAC: From the
Hebrew for "laughter." A good biblical name for
the offspring of older parents; Abraham was over 100 when
Isaac was born. Relatives: Ike, Zach, Isaak, Yitzchak,
Isak. Namesakes: Yitsak Rabin, Isaac Stern, Isaac Newton,
Isak Denison, Isaac, Bashevis Singer
ISABEL: Another
variation on Elizabeth. We like this name, but you are
bound to have at least one relative who doesn't.
Relatives: Isabella, Isabelle. Namesakes: Queen isabella,
Isabella Rossellini, Isabelle Adjani.
ISAIAH: Hebrew for
"salvation of the Lord." Relatives: Isa, Isiah.
Namesake: Isiah Thomas
ISHMAEL: Hebrew for
"God will hear." Go ahead; call him Ishmael.
Namesake: Ishmael Reed.
ISIDORE: Greek for
"gift of Isis," the Egyptian mood goddess
associated with fertility. Seldom used these days, though
the feminine form has its devotees among the
free-spirited. Relatives: Isidor, Isisdora, Isadora, Izzy,
Dora, Dorie, Dory. Namesake: Isadora Duncan.
ISOLDA: Old English
for "fair." Relatives: Isolde, Yseult.
ISRAEL: Hebrew for
"wrestled with God." The Puritans were fond of
this one. Namesakes: Israel Horowitz, Israel Putnam.
IVAN: Russian
variation of John. Relatives: Ivanna, John, Evan.
Namesakes: Ivan Boesky, Ivan the Terrible, Ivanna Trump.
IVY: From the Old
English for "vine." Very pretty, due for a
comeback. Relatives: Ive, Ives. Namesakes: Saint Ives,
Judith Ivey, Charles Ives.
~ THE BEST NAME FOR
YOUR BABY: A CREATIVE GUIDE TO PROPER NAMES, by Barbara
Binswanger and Lisbeth Mark. Henry Holt and Co., New York,
1990. |
