Given name
Iain
“God is gracious”
Iain is a variant of Ian. In Gaelic use, Ian carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Iain is a variant of Ian. In Gaelic use, Ian carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1953. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Iain through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,911
- 2,911 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2003
- 126 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #7,357 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −46%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,357 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 46.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 126 in 2003. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,574 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Iain’s family of names
In Scottish Gaelic usage, Iain has a diminutive in Iagan. In Scottish Gaelic usage, Iain has a conventional equivalent in the English form John. In Scottish Gaelic usage, Iain has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Juan.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Iain has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
10 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Iain
- Iain BanksScottish writer (1954–2013)
- Iain GlenScottish actorborn 1961
- Iain ArmitageAmerican actorborn 2008
- Iain De CaesteckerScottish actorborn 1987
- Iain TurnerScottish footballer (born 1984)
- Iain PercyBritish sailorborn 1976
- Iain MacleodBritish politician, cabinet minister and contract bridge player (1913-1970)
- Iain PearsBritish writer and art historianborn 1955
- Iain HumeCanadian soccer playerborn 1983
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Iain, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ean
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Aeneas
“to be worthy of praise”
>99% boys
Euan
“the little swift one”
>99% boys
Colman
“one who burns charcoal; resembling a dove”
>99% boys
Devlin
“having fierce bravery; a misfortunate man”
89% boys · 11% girls
Conlan
“a hero”
>99% boys
Tiernan
“lord of the manor”
95% boys · 5% girls
Garron
“one who protects others” · “resembling a gelding; workhorse”
>99% boys