Given name & surname
Ivory
Ivory is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “having a creamy-white complexion; as precious as elephant tusks.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “having a creamy-white complexion; as precious as elephant tusks.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English usage, Ivory is a diminutive of Ivor.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ivory through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 23,114
- 8,568 boys · 14,546 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 840 babies
- 2025
- 840
- #378 for girls · #3,693 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +34%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 6% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 810 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 378 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 37.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 30 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (108). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,058 as a first name in 2020; 6,988 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ivory’s family of names
In English usage, Ivory is a diminutive of Ivor. Ivory has a related form in Ivori. Ivory has a related form in Ivorie.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Ivorivariant
- Ivorievariant
- Ivoreevariant
- Ivorfull form · English
- Ivoryelikely variant
- Ivorrylikely variant
- Ivoreanevariant
- Ivoreahvariant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Ivory
- Ivory Joe HunterAmerican rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and pianist (1914–1974)1911–1974
- Ivory LattaAmerican basketball player (born 1984)
- Ivory AquinoFilipina-American actress
- Ivory WilliamsAmerican sprinterborn 1985
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Ivory, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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