1004 Adorable Baby Names That Start With I

Iconic beginnings and infinite charm.

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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

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Names that start with the letter I have a link to Yod, the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from which the letter ‘I’ likely originates. The term Yod is derived from an early symbol resembling the human hand. The style of writing this letter has also evolved as time passed. Unlike the vertical version of the letter ‘I’ we see today, the Greeks used a curved form, which was similar to its Semitic origins. Additionally, the title of the I, more commonly known as the dot, appeared around the 11th century to differentiate it from the letters M and N, which have a similar structure.

In English, I is considered a complete word and it serves as the Roman numeral for the number one. The letter is also a symbol of self-reflection and introspection in the real world and literature. Moreover, being the ninth letter of the Latin alphabet, it may have associations with the same numerological number. The planet Mars rules this number and may signify creativity, imagination, and bravery. Popular names that start with I have diverse origins and meanings. Boy names such as Isaac, Ivan, and Isiah are not only well-loved but also have associations with the Bible. On the other hand, girl names such as Isabella, Ivy, and Ingrid have varied origins. However, what brings these names together is the single letter at the head of each one. Even today, names such as Ivan, Isaac, and Isabella rank quite high among the top 1000 names in the US (1).

‘I’ also offers multiple phonetic choices, which makes it a pet alphabet among parents. The long sound as in ‘ice’ and the short sound as in ‘igloo’ make for a variety of sounds and pronunciations. Interestingly, ‘I’ is one of the most frequently used vowels in the English language. Celebrity influences have also worked in the favor of names starting with the letter I. Notable figures such as Ian McKellen, Isla Fisher, Idris Elba, Ingrid Bergman, and Ivanka Trump are popular bearers. If you are a science nerd, you will find Isaac Newton among the known personalities. For book lovers, there are Isaac Asimov and Ian Fleming. In every field, be it sports or music, you will find someone with the I-name who made an extraordinary remark. Whether traditional or contemporary, parents will find a baby name that starts with I that suits their tastes. Distinct yet resonating with history and mythology, names starting with I have stood the test of time and will continue to do so.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Isabella	Girl	God is my oath
Isla	Girl	Island
Isaac	Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice; Laughter
Ivy	Girl	Climber plant; Fig
Isaiah	Boy	Yahweh is salvation; God saves
Ian	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Iris	Girl	Rainbow; Bringer of Joy; Irish flower; Colored part of the eye
Isabelle	Girl	My God is an oath; Devoted to God
Isabel	Girl	God is my oath
Israel	Boy	God contends

Ismael	Boy	God hears
Izabella	Girl	My God is an oath
Iker	Boy	Visitation; Visitor
Isaias	Boy	God saves; Yahweh is salvation
Imani	Girl	Faith; Belief
Izaiah	Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Itzel	Girl	Rainbow lady; Resin; Nectar; Extraordinary; Shadow; Protection
Ivanna	Girl	God is gracious
Issac	Boy	He will laugh
Irene	Girl	Peace

Ila	Girl	Earth; Speech; Companion; Associate; Torch; Island
Iyla	Girl	Moonlight; Terebinth tree; Earth; Speech; Island
Isabela	Girl	God is my oath
Ishaan	Boy	Lord; Guardian of the north-east direction; Lord Shiva
Iliana	Girl	From Ilium or Troy; God is Yahweh
India	Girl	Country originating in river Indus; Body of trembling water, river
Itzayana	Girl	Itza people of Central America; Resin; Nectar
Ingrid	Girl	Beautiful goddess of fertility; Godlike beauty
Imran	Boy	Exalted nation
Indie	Unisex	River; Land of the Indians

Ida	Girl	Hardworking; Industrious person; Battle
Ivaan	Boy	God is gracious; Ruler
Isai	Boy	Gift; God is salvation
Ivana	Girl	Yahweh is gracious
Ismail	Unisex	God listens
Immanuel	Boy	God is with us
Inaya	Girl	Concern; Care
Isael	Boy	God strives; God's soldier; God contends
Irie	Girl	Cool; Nice; Peace; Harmony; Get in favor; Inlet
Ishmael	Boy	God will hear

Imogen	Girl	Maiden; Beloved child
Isiah	Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Ilan	Unisex	Tree
Ireland	Unisex	Land of the Irish; Abundant land
Inaaya	Girl	Care; Concern
Irving	Unisex	Green water
Izayah	Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Izael	Unisex	God prevails
Ines	Girl	Pure; Chaste; Holy; Lamb; Kindness; Caress; Companion
Ivey	Unisex	Ivy plant; Son of Ive; Person from Ivory

Isadora	Girl	Gift of Isis
Isabell	Girl	God is my oath
Inez	Girl	Pure; Lamb
Issa	Unisex	God is salvation; God saves
Inara	Unisex	Illumination; Ray of light; Heaven sent
Ilyas	Boy	Yahweh is my God
Iva	Girl	God is gracious; Willow tree; Yew
Italy	Unisex	Of Italy; Calf
Iyanna	Girl	Flower; Silent; Life; God is gracious
Ivar	Boy	Bow warrior; Army; Yew tree

Isha	Girl	Master; Lord
Irvin	Boy	Green water; Boar friend
Ishan	Boy	Master; Lord; Shiva
Izabel	Girl	My God is an oath
Isis	Girl	Throne
Isidro	Boy	Gift of Isis
Izabelle	Girl	My God is an oath
Iman	Unisex	To be faithful
Izan	Unisex	Strong; Enduring; Obedient
Irelynn	Girl	Abundant land

Irina	Girl	Peace
Iqra	Girl	Read; To recite; Confess
Ignatius	Unisex	Fire; Fiery
Ilana	Unisex	Tree
Isobel	Girl	My God is an oath
Iver	Boy	Bow warrior; Army; Yew tree
Isaak	Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice
Ileana	Girl	Torch; Moon
Izrael	Unisex	God contends
Ivanka	Girl	God is gracious

Inayah	Girl	Care; Concern
Idrees	Boy	Interpreter; Studious; Smart; Ardent lord
Italia	Girl	Of Italy
Isa	Girl	Ice; Jesus; Yahweh is salvation; My God is an oath
Illiana	Girl	Yahweh is my God
Iyana	Girl	God is gracious; Downy-bearded
Izel	Girl	Unique; Delicate; God contends; A river in Russia
Izaak	Boy	To laugh; He will rejoice
Ike	Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice
Ilyana	Girl	Sun ray; Kindness; Gentleness; My God is Yahweh

Ivie	Unisex	Climbing evergreen plant
Isra	Unisex	Night journey
Izaac	Boy	To laugh; He will rejoice
Isley	Unisex	A hazel wood; Grove
Ishanvi	Unisex	Goddess Parvati; Saraswati; Desire
Ilias	Unisex	My God is Yahweh
Iverson	Unisex	Son of Iver; Yew tree; Bow; Army; Warrior
Imogene	Girl	Maiden; To play; Carry around
Isela	Girl	Alone; Unique
Ivette	Girl	Yew

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Baby names that start with I offer a variety of great options for new parents to choose from. From Isaac to Isabella, these names have been around for a long time and are still chosen. They are often found in ancient texts including the Bible, and in old languages such as Greek, Sanskrit, Arabic, and Hebrew also count some of them in their number. Now found in almost every contemporary language, these names have created a wholesome following among parents. By giving their children names that start with I, parents are often associating them with a great history and significance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are rare names that start with I?

A few rare names that start with the letter I are Ilma, which means ‘air’ in Finnish, Ileen, which means ‘torch’ in Greek, Ijsbrand, which means ‘ice sword’ in Dutch, and Idalia, which means ‘work’ or ‘labor’ in German.

2. Which Hindu God names start with I?

The Hindu gods Indra and Ishana are a few gods with names starting from the letter I. Ishana refers to one of the eleven Rudra forms of Lord Shiva, and Indra is considered the king of devas and the controller of weather, thunder, rains, and wars.

Infographic: Popular I-Letter Names For Your Baby

I-letter names possess a unique individuality and phonetic charm that sets them apart from other names. The distinctive shape and sound of the letter add to the elegance of these names. Explore the infographic below to discover a selection of meaningful I-letter names that you might find perfect for your child.

baby names that start with i (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Popularity of a Name.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

Look Up For Many More Names

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