Names like Ian

In 2025, 3,924 boys born in the US were named Ian, #83 among boys' names.

It was in the top 1,000 as early as 1930, dropped out, and has been back every year since 1934.

Its best rank was #65, in 2003.

The most births in one year were 6,688, in 2005.

Births fell 26% from 5,332 in 2015.

For 7 of the 12 names below, the current unbroken run in the top 1,000 began in 1929 or later (Ian's began in 1934).

Ian's rank every ten years

1. 1880
   —
2. 1890
   —
3. 1900
   —
4. 1910
   —
5. 1920
   —
6. 1930
   #971
7. 1940
   #811
8. 1950
   #612
9. 1960
   #507
10. 1970
    #220
11. 1980
    #104
12. 1990
    #70
13. 2000
    #73
14. 2010
    #72
15. 2020
    #83
16. 2025
    #83

— outside the top 1,000

12 boy names with a similar curve

How this list was made

We compared Ian's rank in every year from 1880 to 2025 with every other boy's name in the 2025 top 1,000 (US Social Security birth records); the closest curves come first. Years outside the top 1,000 count the same however far outside, years since 1995 count four times as much, and each name appears in one spelling.