Scottish Gaelic boy name
Iain Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Iain means god is gracious. The Scottish Gaelic form of John, from the Hebrew name Yohanan
Iain is the Scottish Gaelic form of John, and in Scotland it is by far the best-known Gaelic boys' name, even though the spelling Ian is more common internationally. The Hebrew original means God is gracious. The name has a bookish reputation thanks to authors such as Iain Banks, and it has also been carried by the actor Iain Glen. It is brief and strong, with no trouble in pronunciation. Iain suits a family who want a recognisably Scottish name that is traditional but not at all dated.
Variants of Iain
IanEoin
Well-known people named Iain
Iain Banks, Iain Glen.
Iain popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2011 Iain ranked #623 in Ireland (4 babies) and #7,357 in the US (11 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (boys)United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Iain mean?
Iain means "god is gracious". The Scottish Gaelic form of John, from the Hebrew name Yohanan.
How do you pronounce Iain?
Iain is pronounced EE-an.
What is the origin of Iain?
Iain is of Scottish Gaelic origin. The Scottish Gaelic form of John, from the Hebrew name Yohanan.