Iain
Boy name · Celtic Gaelic · Hebrew · Scottish
MeaningGod is gracious · Scottish form of John
- US rank
- #7,194
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,181 in 2003
11 babies were named Iain in the US in 2025. It has dropped 4,466 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1953–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Iain you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Iain
Iain Banks
Scottish writer (1954–2013)
Choose Iain and your child shares a first name with Iain Banks, a Scottish writer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Iain, like who?” Iain Banks's Wikipedia article is available in 55 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Iain Banks on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Pasi Välkkynen, CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 156,250 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Iain, 11 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Iain would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryIain first shows up in US birth records in 1953, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 72 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 2003, when it ranked #1,181. Today it's #7,194, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowIain was 7.6× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 20,661 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 156,250.
- TrendIain has slipped 4,466 places over the last five years and now sits at #7,194. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIain is a Scottish form of John, which means “God is gracious”. Our records link it to Celtic Gaelic, Hebrew and Scottish roots.
About the name Iain
Iain is a boy name of Celtic Gaelic, Hebrew and Scottish origin meaning “God is gracious”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with I and ending in “-ain”. US birth records list Iain for boys from 1953 to 2025, in 69 of those 73 years. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked #1,181 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #7,194, with 11 babies.
Origin:Celtic Gaelic namesHebrew namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.1 | 909,091 boys |
| 1960s | 5.9 | 168,919 boys |
| 1970s | 9.5 | 105,042 boys |
| 1980s | 17 | 57,870 boys |
| 1990s | 32 | 31,289 boys |
| 2000s | 51 | 19,693 boys |
| 2010s | 28 | 36,127 boys |
| 2020s | 15 | 66,964 boys |
More Celtic Gaelic boy names
- Boy name: Bowen · son of Owen
- Boy name: Malcolm · devotee of Saint Columba
- Boy name: Danny · God is my judge
- Boy name: Calum · dove
- Unisex name: Bowie · yellow-haired
- Boy name: Cian · ancient
- Unisex name: Naveen · new
- Boy name: Earl · nobleman
Questions about the name Iain
What does the name Iain mean?
Iain means “God is gracious” in Scottish, as a form of John.
What is the origin of the name Iain?
Iain has Celtic Gaelic, Hebrew, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic Gaelic names include Bowen, Malcolm, Danny.
Is Iain a boy or girl name?
Iain is a boy name.
How popular is the name Iain?
Iain ranked #7,194 for US boys in 2025, given to 11 babies. Its best year was 2003 (#1,181).