Letter themes are a quick way to shrink an endless list of baby names into something you can actually read. Some families pick a letter to honor a relative, others just like the look of the monogram. These are the best girl names that start with I, and the letter really is scarce: only four names on this list sit inside the current U.S. top 100 for girls, Isabella at #7, Isla at #28, Ivy at #39 and Iris at #61 in 2025 (1).
Every popularity note below comes from Social Security Administration birth records, so each rank describes American babies and nothing more. A name with no rank at all tells you something too: the SSA withholds any name given to fewer than five babies in a year (2).
Ahead you will find 100 I names with origins, meanings, pronunciations, namesakes and where each one stands today. Some are old favorites due a comeback, and some have never charted at all.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Isabella, Isla, Ivy, Iris and Isabelle.
- Isabella
- Isla
- Ivy
- Iris
- Isabelle
100 Popular Female Names That Start with I
Hold onto your hat; the most inventive girl names that start with I are just around the bend.
Ibbie
Ibbie started life as a pet form of Isabella, though it works just as well as a shortening of Elizabeth, which gives it a quiet biblical thread since Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist. Alternate readings include God’s promise, which suits parents who want faith tucked inside something playful. It looks like a nickname and wears like a full name.
- Origin: Spanish, Hebrew
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: IH-bee
- Variations: Ibbi, Ibby
- Popularity: Ibbie ranked #10,412 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2024 at #2,866.
Iberia
Iberia belongs to the family of place names, though it never caught on the way Paris or London did. It points to the Iberian Peninsula, the stretch of land Spain and Portugal share. Families with roots in either country get a geography lesson and a name in one go. The soft vowels give it an easy, musical sound once you say it a few times.
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Meaning: From the Iberian Peninsula
- Pronunciation: eye-BEER-ee-uh
- Popularity: Iberia does not appear in the SSA’s U.S. files, which withhold any name given to fewer than five babies in a year.
Ibolya
Ibolya is the Hungarian word for the violet, and it traces back to viola, the Latin name for the same flower. Violets picked up their link to love from those heart-shaped petals. They stand for humility and innocence too, a pairing that suits a quiet, thoughtful child. The pronunciation, ih-BALL-yah, has a bounce that keeps the name from feeling fussy. It is gentle on the ear with real meaning underneath.
- Origin: Hungarian, Latin
- Meaning: Violet flower
- Pronunciation: ih-BALL-yah
- Popularity: No U.S. rank on record for Ibolya; the SSA’s five-birth publication floor keeps the rarest names off the list.
Icelynn
Icelynn reads like winter itself, all frost and clean air. American records first picked it up in 2006, which makes it a genuinely modern invention rather than a revival. Parents who like options get Icelyn and Icelinn to play with. The Frozen effect did the whole Ice family a favor, and of every name on this list, Icelynn has climbed the fastest.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Snow
- Pronunciation: EYES-lihn
- Variations: Icelinn, Icelyn
- Popularity: Icelynn ranked #1,110 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2024 at #923. That is up about 1,195% on the previous decade of births.
Ida
Ida is short, sturdy, and unmistakably vintage, a favorite from the era when plain I names ruled the nursery. The German root means industrious, which is a fine thing to wish on a daughter. It also doubles as a nickname for Adelaide if you want the longer form on the birth certificate. Biochemist Ida Rolf carried it well. For families hunting short girl names with I, this is the obvious first stop.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Industrious
- Pronunciation: EYE-duh
- Namesakes: Ida Rolf, an American biochemist known for her work with alternative medicine.
- Popularity: The SSA put Ida at #1,120 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 1913 high of #49.
Idalia
In Greek mythology, Idalia serves as another name for Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure. It also echoes Idalion, an ancient city on Cyprus. Alternate readings run toward work or labor, a grounded counterweight to all that romance. Cuban actress Idalia Anerus gave it a screen presence in Portrait of Teresa. Between the sound and the story, Idalia suits a girl you expect to light up a dark evening.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Behold the sun
- Pronunciation: ee-DALL-ee-uh
- Variations: Idallia
- Namesakes: Idalia Anerus, a Cuban actress known for her role in Portrait of Teresa.
- Popularity: Idalia sits at #2,162 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #1,404 in 2023.
Idalina
Idalina dresses Ida up without losing the meaning underneath, with Sanskrit adding a second reading of insight and older sources offering noble. Brazilian handball player Idalina Mesquita is among the few well-known bearers. It carries the same industrious streak as Ida while sounding a shade more elaborate.
- Origin: German, Indian
- Meaning: Industrious one
- Pronunciation: ih-dah-LEE-nah
- Namesakes: Idalina Mesquita, a Brazilian handball player.
- Popularity: Idalina last appears in the SSA’s U.S. data in 2024 at #14,129; its best year was 1926 at #4,535.
Idamae
Idamae is what happens when Ida marries Mae, the way plenty of names were built a century ago. American records first picked it up in 1901, and the name peaked in 1917, and it still turns up far down the list today rather than disappearing. Alternate readings include bitter and pearl, June’s birthstone, so a summer baby gets a bonus. Six letters give it a tidy, balanced look on paper.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Industrious one
- Pronunciation: EYE-duh-MAY
- Variations: Idamay
- Popularity: The SSA put Idamae at #13,849 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 1917 high of #949.
Idea
Idea is exactly the word it appears to be, Latin for thought. As a name it stands for the moment before anything exists, the spark behind a song, a film, or an invention. It is bold enough to need a beat of explanation at the school gate, which for a family that prizes imagination is rather the point.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Thought
- Pronunciation: eye-DEE-uh
- Popularity: No U.S. rank on record for Idea; the SSA’s five-birth publication floor keeps the rarest names off the list.
Idola
Idola means vision, and it suits a girl who seems to know where she is headed. The link to idols gives it a note of reverence, since so many faiths built their symbols around that word. It shares a sound world with Isadora and Lola without the familiarity of either. Idie, said EE-dee, and Lola are both waiting as nicknames.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Vision
- Pronunciation: ee-DOH-lah
- Popularity: The SSA’s U.S. records stop for Idola in 1935 at #4,496, well below its 1918 high of #3,367.
Idona
Idona grew out of Idony, a Norse name read as love again or renewal. Idony was the goddess tied to youth and springtime. That link hands this one an unmistakable season. Old records suggest it landed on people who rekindled an old romance or found love late. Spring babies could hardly ask for a better match.
- Origin: German, Norse
- Meaning: Active in love
- Pronunciation: ee-DOH-nuh
- Popularity: Idona last appears in the SSA’s U.S. data in 1959 at #6,619; its best year was 1917 at #3,493.
Idris
Idris carries two histories, one Arabic and one Welsh, and both point toward learning. Actor Idris Elba keeps it in front of audiences through roles like Luther. Welsh legend hands the name to a poet and astronomer known for his height, who read the stars from a mountaintop. It leans male in the United States, but nothing in the sound belongs to boys alone.
- Origin: Arabic, Welsh
- Meaning: Studious, lord
- Pronunciation: ihd-RISS
- Popularity: Idris was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #694 in SSA data.
Iggy
Iggy is the nickname that refused to stay a nickname, shortening Ignatia for girls and Ignatius for boys, which is how it earned unisex standing. The meaning, fiery, is a gift for a hot-tempered toddler or a redhead. Australian rapper Amethyst Kelly, better known as Iggy Azalea, gave it a modern face.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Fiery
- Pronunciation: IHG-ee
- Variations: Iggi, Iggie
- Namesakes: Amethyst Kelly, an Australian rapper also known as Iggy Azalea.
- Popularity: Iggy ranked #8,500 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2023 at #7,060.
Ignatia
Ignatia is the feminine form of Ignatius, and it shares the burning meaning of Ignacia. American novelist Ignatia Broker is the bearer most likely to turn up in a library catalog. The name has sat in the archives for decades, which leaves it wide open for a family willing to be first on the block.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Ardent, burning
- Pronunciation: ig-NAH-shuh
- Namesakes: Ignatia Broker, an American novelist.
- Popularity: Ignatia was strongest in 1919, its best U.S. showing on record at #4,496 in SSA data.
Ihrin
Ihrin offers a fresh route to Erin, with roots that reach back to ancient Rome. It reads as peace, or in the longer version, the person who keeps the peace, which is a generous wish to hand a daughter. Two accepted pronunciations, EER-ihn and EYE-rihn, let families choose the sound they prefer. It belongs among the prettiest of the rare I names.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: EER-ihn, EYE-rihn
- Popularity: No U.S. rank on record for Ihrin; the SSA’s five-birth publication floor keeps the rarest names off the list.
Ilana
If you want Hebrew female names that start with I, Ilana leads the field. It means oak tree, and it traditionally goes to girls born around Tu BiShvat, the New Year of the Trees, marked in Israel in late winter. Comedian Ilana Glazer brought it into American living rooms. South African tennis player Ilana Kloss carried it onto the court a generation earlier. Three syllables that read easily on paper make it simple to spell out over the phone.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Oaktree
- Pronunciation: ee-LAH-nah
- Namesakes: Ilana Glazer, an American comedian, director, and producer.
- Popularity: Ilana ranked #2,496 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 1987 at #1,184.
Ilani
Ilani means my tree, an image of roots, shade, and staying power. A second reading gives it beautiful soul, which is a lot of warmth for three syllables. The Hawaiian influence keeps the sound unhurried, ee-LAH-nee, and it pairs easily with a short surname. Nothing about it feels heavy, which is unusual for a name with this much meaning.
- Origin: Hawaiian, Hebrew
- Meaning: My tree
- Pronunciation: ee-LAH-nee
- Popularity: Ilani hit its best rank on record in 2025, #1,890 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Ilaria
Ilaria is the Italian answer to Hilary, and both trace to hilarium, the Latin word for merry. It also works as the feminine form of Ilario, so it can honor a grandfather without sounding like one. Italian actress Ilaria Occhini made it familiar to film audiences through Loose Cannons, and parents who want cheerfulness written into the meaning rarely find a prettier option.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Cheerful, happy
- Pronunciation: ee-LAR-ee-ah
- Namesakes: Ilaria Occhini, an Italian actress known for her role in Loose Cannons.
- Popularity: Ilaria was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #2,835 in SSA data.
Iliana
Iliana points back to Troy, which the ancients called Ilium, so it arrives with an epic attached. Read another way it descends from the biblical Elijah and means my God is Yahweh, and a third tradition offers ray of light. Bulgarian Olympic gymnast Iliana Raeva-Sirakova is among its athletic bearers. Ana, said AH-nuh, softens it when four syllables feel like a lot.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: From Ilium, from Troy
- Pronunciation: ILL-ee-AH-nuh
- Variations: Eliana
- Namesakes: Iliana Raeva-Sirakova, a Bulgarian Olympic gymnast.
- Popularity: Iliana ranked #730 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2007 at #654.
Ilinca
Ilinca belongs to the Elena and Helene family. All of them are built on the idea of light. Romanian singer and yodeler Ilinca Bacila brought it to a wide audience. A second reading, the Lord is my God, gives religious families another reason to look twice. It is bright without tipping into sweet.
- Origin: Romanian, Greek
- Meaning: Ray of light, torch
- Pronunciation: ee-LINK-ah
- Variations: Ilinka
- Namesakes: Ilinca Bacila, a Romanian singer and yodeler.
- Popularity: The SSA’s U.S. records stop for Ilinca in 2022 at #16,248, well below its 2017 high of #14,812.
Ily
Ily is the text-message shorthand for I love you, now doing full service as a name. A second reading gives it my daughter, which is almost too on the nose. It sits near Kyeli and Miley in sound but nowhere near them in familiarity. Short, warm, and impossible to mishear.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: I love you
- Pronunciation: EYE-lee
- Popularity: Ily sits at #3,311 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #2,496 in 2022.
Iman
Iman means faith, and it runs feminine in Arabic while serving as a male name in Persian. Somali American supermodel Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid made it a household word. It also turns up on characters in DC Comics and on a luxury handbag label, two syllables carrying plenty of presence.
- Origin: Arabic, Perisan
- Meaning: Faith
- Pronunciation: EE-mahn
- Namesakes: Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, an American Somali model.
- Popularity: In the SSA’s 2025 data, Iman came in at #2,072 among U.S. girls, off its 1996 peak of #1,043.
Imani
Imani carries faith and belief in both Arabic and Swahili, and it stretches Iman into something more lyrical. Singer and songwriter Imani Coppola has kept it in the credits since the nineties. Mani and Nini both work as everyday nicknames. It is one of the few names here that suits a toddler and a college professor equally well.
- Origin: Arabic, Swahili
- Meaning: Faith, belief
- Pronunciation: ee-MAH-nee
- Variations: Emani, Imaani
- Namesakes: Imani Coppola, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: The SSA put Imani at #579 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 1996 high of #239.
Imara
Imara means firm and steadfast, fitting the girl who states her opinion and then holds it, with alternate readings of to construct and to enliven. Brazilian actress Imara Reis is its best known bearer, thanks to Flora de Desejo. African naming traditions use it for girls while Quranic ones use it for boys, which is how it landed as unisex.
- Origin: African, Arabic
- Meaning: Firm, steadfast
- Pronunciation: ee-MAR-uh
- Variations: Emara, Imaara
- Namesakes: Imara Reis, a Brazilian actress known for her role in Flora de Desejo.
- Popularity: Imara sits at #3,008 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #2,990 in 2024.
Imelda
Imelda is the Italian take on the German Irmhilde, a name that translates to powerful fighter. Imelda, the patron saint of first communicants, has her day in December, which makes this a neat pick for a winter baby. Actress Imelda Staunton won a whole new generation of fans through the Harry Potter films. It is vintage, but it has claws.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish, German
- Meaning: All consuming fight
- Pronunciation: ee-MELL-duh
- Namesakes: Imelda Staunton, a British actress known for her role in the Harry Potter films.
- Popularity: Imelda ranked #4,295 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 1928 at #809.
Immaculate
Immaculate means without stain. That says out loud what most parents think quietly about a newborn. The word is bound up with the Virgin Mary, so it carries a devotional weight that few virtue names still manage. It is one of the boldest women’s names that start with I, and it will invite questions. Mak makes a blunt, modern nickname for the days you would rather not answer them.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Without stain
- Pronunciation: ee-MAK-YOO-leht
- Popularity: The SSA’s U.S. records stop for Immaculate in 1948 at #5,565, well below its 1936 high of #3,231.
Imogen
Imogen was born on the page. Shakespeare wrote it for Cymbeline, and the theater has been handing it down ever since. Alternate readings include maiden and daughter, both plain and both affectionate. Singer and songwriter Imogen Heap and British Olympic gymnast Imogen Cairns keep it current. Anyone who finds Imogene a touch frilly can stop right here.
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Maiden
- Pronunciation: IH-moh-JEN
- Variations: Imojen
- Namesakes: Imogen Cairns, a British Olympic gymnast.
- Popularity: Imogen hit its best rank on record in 2025, #1,117 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Imogene
Imogene is the ruffled version of Imogen, and it suits parents who like a little lace on a name. It ran through American nurseries for the first half of the twentieth century, which is where the vintage warmth comes from. Films from Alice in Wonderland to Fried Green Tomatoes have used it for characters with backbone. Most people end up calling her Gene, whether or not that was the plan.
- Origin: Celtic, Irish
- Meaning: Innocent
- Pronunciation: IH-moh-JEEN
- Variations: Imojene
- Namesakes: Imogene Morrell, an American painter.
- Popularity: Imogene ranked #2,521 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 1927 at #157. That is up about 239% on the previous decade of births.
Ina
Ina is a gem among short I names for girls, three letters and done. Cooking maven Ina Garten is the reason most Americans can picture it at all. Alternate readings include lover of horses and queen depending on which root you follow, and the two accepted pronunciations, EYE-nuh and EE-nuh, give families a choice most short names never offer.
- Origin: Latin, Polish, Filipino
- Meaning: To entertain, home
- Pronunciation: EYE-nuh, EE-nuh
- Namesakes: Saint Ina of Wales, a member of the royal house of Gwynedd.
- Popularity: The SSA put Ina at #2,627 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 1913 high of #221.
Inaaya
Inaaya is an indirect Quranic name built around concern, help, and protection. It turns up in the language of asking a higher power for care, which gives it a prayerful undertone. The doubled A sets it apart from the plainer Inaya on paper. Naya makes a quick nickname for the playground.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Concern, help, protection
- Pronunciation: ee-NYE-uh
- Popularity: Inaaya’s best U.S. showing was 2018, when it hit #1,178; the SSA’s 2025 data has it back at #3,420.
Inacia
Inacia has an edge to it, helped along by the rumor of a mythical ruler behind the meaning, she who rules over the world. Beyond origin and meaning, the record goes quiet, which leaves the story open for your daughter to fill. Expect a certain regal streak from a name that carries so much weight in so few syllables.
- Origin: Portuguese, Indian
- Meaning: She who rules over the world
- Pronunciation: ee-NAH-see-uh
- Popularity: Too rare for the SSA’s U.S. data, which publishes a name only when at least five babies receive it in a year.
Inara
In Hittite mythology, Inara is the little-known goddess of wild animals, a role Greek legend handed to Artemis. Alternate readings include ray of light and heaven-sent, which fits the shining light meaning at the root. Singer and songwriter Inara George keeps the name in current playlists, and it has a few other cool namesakes, like Latvian journalist and politician Inara Murniece. It sounds delicate and it is not.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Shining light
- Pronunciation: ih-NAR-uh
- Variations: Enara
- Namesakes: Inara George, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Inara was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #1,049 in SSA data.
Inari
Inari is the Japanese deity of rice, tea, and foxes. Folklore credits her with keeping the rice fields generous. Alternate readings include rich and to carry, a quiet nod to the idea that work brings its own reward. Finnish gives it a second home entirely. It runs unisex and stays about equally rare either way.
- Origin: Finnish, Japanese
- Meaning: Loaded with rice
- Pronunciation: ee-NAR-ee
- Popularity: Inari has slipped since 2023, when U.S. girls with the name reached #3,028; the SSA’s 2025 count puts it at #4,805.
Indali
Indali is a traditional Indian name meaning powerful, and it stumps almost everyone who meets it for the first time. Beyond that meaning and origin, there is little on record. That blankness is an asset for parents who want their daughter writing her own story. The meaning alone gives it a quiet strength that needs no nickname to prove it.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Powerful
- Pronunciation: ihn-DAH-lee
- Popularity: Too rare for the SSA’s U.S. data, which publishes a name only when at least five babies receive it in a year.
India
India takes its name from the River Indus, so the geography is baked in. It ran through American nurseries until about 1911, disappeared, and resurfaced in the seventies. Gone With the Wind and Buffy the Vampire Slayer both put an India on screen, and singer India Arie carries the name today.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the River Indus
- Pronunciation: IHN-dee-uh
- Namesakes: India Arie, an American singer.
- Popularity: India settled at #1,722 for U.S. girls in the SSA’s 2025 release, a long way from the #299 it held in 2001.
Indiana
Americans hear the Hoosier state first, all corn rows and basketball gyms. The name travels further than that, though, turning up sporadically elsewhere, as with Australian singer and songwriter Indiana Evans. Indiana Jones gave it a whip and a hat, and a hint of adventure it has never lost. Indy or Anna will do for short.
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Land of the Indians
- Pronunciation: ihn-dee-AAN-uh
- Namesakes: Indiana Evans, an Australian singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Indiana numbered enough for #2,202 in the SSA’s 2025 data, a good distance from its 1913 high of #1,633.
Indica
Indica may be one of the most argued-over of the female names that start with I, since it doubles as a species of cannabis, though indie rock fans hear the Finnish band first. The meaning, of India, makes it a fine pick for a girl with a Hindi heritage. English actress Indica Watson, of Sherlock, proves it works on a call sheet.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Of India
- Pronunciation: ihn-DEE-kuh
- Namesakes: Indica Watson, an English actress known for her role in Sherlock.
- Popularity: Indica ranked #6,411 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2021 at #3,571. That is up about 111% on the previous decade of births.
Indie
Indie can shorten Independence, Indigo, or Indiana, but plenty of parents skip the long form entirely. It reads as independent, which is either a promise or a warning. Singer Aaron Lewis made headlines when he named his daughter Indie Shay. It is unisex on paper and mostly used for girls in practice, with a light, breezy sound that suits the meaning.
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Independent
- Pronunciation: IHN-dee
- Variations: Indi, Indee, Indy
- Popularity: The SSA put Indie at #634 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 2022 high of #552.
Indigo
Indigo is the blue-purple hue made from Indian plants, and the name means Indian dye, carrying associations with intuition and the heavens besides. Supergirl and a run of other shows have used it for characters with something otherworldly about them. Classified as gender-neutral, it lands mostly on girls.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Indian dye
- Pronunciation: IHN-dih-GOH
- Popularity: Indigo hit its best rank on record in 2025, #854 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Indira
Indira means splendid, with alternate readings of pretty and beauty. History has handed it to formidable women, Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, chief among them. Serbian singer and songwriter Indira Radic keeps it in rotation on the radio. The lilt of ihn-DEER-ah is the sort of thing people repeat back to you just to say it again.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Splendid
- Pronunciation: ihn-DEER-ah
- Namesakes: Indira Radic, a Serbian singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Indira’s 1966 high of #1,721 still beats its current standing: #3,797 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data.
Ines
Parents looking for something with more spice than Agnes should look into Ines. The name means pure and virginal, with sacred and lamb offered as alternate readings, a link to the Lamb of God. Ines, the former Queen of Castro, gave it a story people still tell. Her forbidden romance with King Peter of Portugal is the stuff of Portuguese legend. Inez is the alternate spelling if you want more zip.
- Origin: Italian, Portuguese, Croatian
- Meaning: Pure, virginal
- Pronunciation: EYE-nehz, ee-NEHZ
- Variations: Inez
- Namesakes: Ines Sastre, a Spanish model and actress.
- Popularity: Ines held #1,111 among U.S. girls in the SSA’s 2025 data, short of the #715 rank it reached back in 1916.
Inessa
Inessa is the Russian branch of the Ines family, and it means chaste. It makes a clean substitute for Vanessa when Vanessa feels too familiar. Latvian opera singer Inessa Galante is its most decorated bearer. CyberChase fans may recognize it too. The chaste meaning gives it a quiet, old-world formality that wears well past childhood.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Chaste
- Pronunciation: ee-NEH-sah
- Namesakes: Inessa Galante, a Latvian opera singer.
- Popularity: Inessa’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data put it at #6,949, down from the #3,980 rank it held in 2005.
Ingrid
If you like I names for girls with a hygge feeling, Ingrid is the one. It ties back to Ing, the Norse god of fertility and peace, and it means fair. The Norse thread runs deep, and so does the sense of calm. Singer and songwriter Ingrid Michaelson made it a fixture on American playlists. It is cozy, but there is iron underneath.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Fair
- Pronunciation: ING-rihd
- Namesakes: Ingrid Michaelson, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Ingrid ranked #1,121 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 1967 at #380.
Inocencia
Inocencia is the wonder of childlike innocence turned into a name. The telenovela Marimar gave it a moment on screen, and Filipino sprinter Inocencia Solis gave it a finish line. It counts as a virtue name, though English speakers reach for Charity and Faith instead. Cee Cee or Cia, said SEE-uh, keep it manageable.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Innocence
- Pronunciation: EE-noh-SENS-ee-UH
- Namesakes: Inocencia Solis, a Filipino sprinter.
- Popularity: Inocencia’s last appearance in SSA’s U.S. records was 2008 at #16,164, far below its 1929 high of #2,645.
Iona
Iona is a scatter of islands off the Scottish coast, best known for Iona Abbey. Some trace its meaning to the Greek for dove, an alternate reading tied to peace and, in the Bible, to the moment a dove rested on Jesus after his baptism. English folklorist Iona Opie carried it onto the reference shelf. Pretty in Pink handed the name to one of the eighties’ great supporting characters. Four letters, several lifetimes.
- Origin: Greek, Scottish
- Meaning: Omen
- Pronunciation: eye-OWN-uh
- Namesakes: Iona Opie, an English folklorist.
- Popularity: Iona sits at #2,667 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #318 in 1918.
Iphigenia
In Greek mythology, Iphigenia is the daughter of Clytemnestra whose father offers her up for the sake of a war. Other tellings rescue her at the last moment, which gives the name a redemption arc rather than a tragedy. Grey’s Anatomy borrowed it as a middle name for one of its leads, and Geni, said JEN-ee, cuts the six syllables down to size when the full version is too much to carry.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Of royal birth
- Pronunciation: if-ih-JEN-ee-uh
- Popularity: Too rare for the SSA’s U.S. data, which publishes a name only when at least five babies receive it in a year.
Iqra
Iqra means read, and it is a chapter of the Quran that some hold to be the first word revealed to the Prophet. That makes it a name about literacy and revelation at once. Pakistani actress Iqra Aziz, of Jhooti, is its most visible bearer. A Q without a U gives any name an advantage on the playground.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Read
- Pronunciation: EEK-rah
- Namesakes: Iqra Aziz, a Pakistani actress known for her role in Jhooti.
- Popularity: Iqra hit its best rank on record in 2025, #1,472 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Ira
Ira is among the briefest girl names that start with I, ideal for families who like things short and sweet, and it means watchful one, belonging to one of King David’s soldiers in the Old Testament. It also works as a short form of Irina, which brings peace into the picture. American records have leaned male for most of its history, though girls have always had a share.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Watchful one
- Pronunciation: EYE-ruh, EER-uh
- Popularity: Ira sits at #822 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #146 in 1915.
Ireland
Ireland brings shamrocks, Saint Patrick’s Day, and a coastline to mind before you have finished saying it. For a family with Irish roots it is a tribute you do not have to explain. The soft landing of EYER-land keeps it on the girls’ side of unisex. Place names run in cycles, and this one is due another turn.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Fertile land
- Pronunciation: EYER-land
- Popularity: Ireland ranked #2,224 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 1998 at #819.
Irelynn
Irelynn is a modern play on Ireland. That is the land of leprechauns and saints, after all. It joins the long parade of Lynn names, Kaitlynn and the rest, while still feeling newly minted. Alternate readings include peaceful waterfall, which suits a serene baby. Expect a girl with a bucket list.
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Ireland
- Pronunciation: EY-er-LIHN
- Variations: Irelyn
- Popularity: The SSA put Irelynn at #3,604 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 2008 high of #1,905.
Irene
Greek legend gives Irene the job of peace itself, the counterpart to the Roman goddess Pax. The name has been in use since the eighth century and has never really gone away. It is a fine option for parents hunting 5-letter names with I. Readers meet Irenes in both the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes books, and American actress Irene Dunne carried it through The Awful Truth. Peace, five letters, no explanation required.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: eye-REEN
- Namesakes: Irene Dunne, an American actress known for her role in The Awful Truth.
- Popularity: Irene sits at #651 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #16 in 1918.
Irenka
Irenka is the Polish diminutive of Irene, peace personified in Greek myth. It has never come close to Irene’s reach, which is exactly the appeal for parents who want the meaning without the familiarity. For a family with Polish roots it is a way to hand a daughter her heritage in three syllables.
- Origin: Greek, Polish
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: eye-REHN-kuh
- Popularity: Irenka has not cleared the SSA’s five-birth floor for U.S. publication.
Irha
Irha is an indirect Quranic name for a girl who values calm. It can also be read as to tranquilize, and sailors have used it in reference to the sea. Alternate readings include God gifted, which is a plain way of saying what most parents already feel. Serene without being sleepy.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Calm, serene
- Pronunciation: EER-huh
- Variations: Irhaa
- Popularity: The SSA put Irha at #2,285 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 2022 high of #2,059.
Iride
Iride is the Italian cousin of Iris, and it means rainbow. Rainbows carry love and friendship, and in the Bible they stand for a promise kept. There are seven colors in one, so the name has a quiet appeal for a baby born in the seventh month or on the seventh day, one who will march to her own beat and expect you to keep up.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Rainbow
- Pronunciation: EYE-reed
- Popularity: Iride has no U.S. rank on record; the SSA’s five-birth floor leaves the rarest names uncounted.
Irie
Irie comes out of Rastafarian greeting, roughly a question about whether you are feeling powerful and positive today. It also names the state of complete ease, free of worry, which is a lot to load onto four letters. American singer and songwriter Irie Love wears it well. Expect a confident kid.
- Origin: Jamaican
- Meaning: Positive, powerful
- Pronunciation: EYE-ree
- Variations: Iree
- Namesakes: Irie Love, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Irie reached #2,009 in the SSA’s 2025 data, down from a 2021 high of #1,298.
Irina
Irina is the Russian branch of the Irene family, and it keeps the meaning of peace intact. Russian ballet gave it Irina Dvorovenko, a prima ballerina, and American tennis gave it Irina Falconi. Fiction has used it too, on Alias and in the Twilight books, and two pronunciations are in play, ih-REE-nah and eye-REEN-ah, so pick the one you want people to repeat.
- Origin: Russian, Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Pronunciation: ih-REE-nah, eye-REEN-ah
- Variations: Irena
- Namesakes: Irina Falconi, an American tennis player.
- Popularity: The SSA put Irina at #1,636 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 2024 high of #1,562.
Iris
Iris is a flower and a goddess at once, and the bloom stands for intelligence and bravery. Greek myth made her the rainbow messenger who ran errands between heaven and earth. Alternative rock fans hear the Goo Goo Dolls song first, and Jude Law put it on his daughter as Iris Tallulah. German fashion designer Iris von Armin gives it a runway credit. Few short names carry this much history so lightly.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Rainbow
- Pronunciation: EYE-riss
- Namesakes: Iris von Armin, a German fashion designer.
- Popularity: Iris hit its best rank on record in 2025, #61 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Irma
Irma comes from irmin, meaning world, so it is a fitting choice for the girl who rearranged yours. A second reading offers deer, an animal tied to purity and quickness. It filled American nurseries in the early 1900s, reaching its peak at #142 in 1915. Dutch filmmaker and writer Irma Achten keeps it on the credits. Erma is the alternate spelling.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Universal, complete
- Pronunciation: ER-muh
- Variations: Erma
- Namesakes: Irma Achten, a Dutch filmmaker, and writer.
- Popularity: Irma’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls landed at #3,181, well down from its #142 showing in 1915.
Irvette
Irvette is the feminine form of Irvin, and it reads as friend of the sea or green water. That makes it a natural for a family raising a daughter near the coast. The ocean is peaceful one day and furious the next, which suits a girl who changes with the weather.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Friend of the sea
- Pronunciation: er-VEHT
- Popularity: Irvette does not appear in the SSA’s U.S. files, which withhold any name given to fewer than five babies in a year.
Isa
Isa can shorten Isabella, and it stands perfectly well on its own. It also carries the reading salvation of God, which gives faith-minded families a second reason to choose it. Swedish singer Isa Tengblad and British cricket commentator Isa Guha both use it. Ruth Ware put it in The Lying Game. Two syllables, two accepted pronunciations, no fuss.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong-willed
- Pronunciation: EE-sah, EYE-sah
- Namesakes: Isa Guha, a British cricket commentator.
- Popularity: Isa was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #933 in SSA data.
Isabeau
Isabeau is the French turn on Isabel and Elisabeth, and it means pledged to God. Alternate readings include sworn to God and God is my oath. Isabeau of Bavaria, a former Queen of France, is the historical anchor. It gives you all of Isabella’s meaning with none of Isabella’s crowd. The French phrasing gives it a formal ring that Isabella never quite has.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: IH-sah-BOO, IH-zah-BOH
- Namesakes: Isabeau of Bavaria, former Queen of France.
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Isabeau reached #13,866 in the SSA’s 2025 data, down sharply from a 2018 high of #5,376.
Isabella
Isabella grew out of Elizabeth, the biblical name that means pledged to God, and it has outgrown almost everything else on this list. A second thread ties it to Jezebel, read as where is the prince. American actress Isabella Acres, of The Kicks, is one of many bearers. The nicknames alone could fill a page, from Bella to Izzy to Isa.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is my oath
- Pronunciation: iss-ah-BELL-ah
- Variations: Izabella, Isabela
- Namesakes: Isabella Acres, an American actress known for her role in The Kicks.
- Popularity: The SSA put Isabella at #7 for U.S. girls in 2025, short of its 2009 high of #1.
Isabelle
Isabelle is the sleeker cut of Isabella, and it grows up well. The Elizabeth connection runs underneath, which means centuries of use behind a name that still sounds current. Swiss explorer and author Isabelle Eberhardt gave it a life of real adventure. Kerry Washington chose it for her daughter in 2014. Belle or Izzy, depending on the day.
- Origin: French, Hebrew
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: iss-ah-BELL
- Variations: Isabell, Isabel
- Namesakes: Isabelle Eberhardt, a Swiss explorer and author.
- Popularity: Isabelle sits at #166 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #79 in 2007.
Isadora
Isadora means gift of Isis, and it has the drama to match. It is a vintage find in a slew of I names for girls, familiar in shape but rarely met in person. Unlike the other Isa names, it never rode a wave of popularity, which is precisely why it still sounds fresh today.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Gift of Isis
- Pronunciation: ISS-ah-DOR-uh
- Variations: Isidora
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Isadora landed at #1,265 in the SSA’s 2025 data, a touch softer than the #1,144 it reached back in 1915.
Isela
Isela is a variant of Isla, and it brings the same picture of carefree days in the sun. It can also derive from Isel, read as one and unique. Scottish and Spanish roots in one name give a mixed-heritage family a neat way to honor both. Ella is sitting right there.
- Origin: Scottish, Spanish
- Meaning: Island
- Pronunciation: ee-SELL-ah
- Popularity: Isela’s 2025 SSA ranking for U.S. girls came in at #1,935, short of the #1,017 high it posted in 1998.
Isha
Isha is a name for Shiva, the Hindu god who reigns over all, and it appears in Hindu scripture, which makes it sacred rather than merely pretty. In Arabic it turns toward alive and life, and it appears in the Quran. Few names connect two religious traditions this cleanly, and Esha is the alternate spelling for families who prefer the softer opening.
- Origin: India, Arabic
- Meaning: One who protects, the ruler
- Pronunciation: EE-shah
- Variations: Esha
- Popularity: Isha’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data put it at #1,276, down from the #1,085 mark it reached in 2002.
Ishani
Ishani is the feminine form of Ishan and another name for the goddess Parvati, usually pictured alongside her husband, Lord Shiva. The meaning, desire, gives it warmth that the mythology does not. Elegant nicknames for your little goddess include Ani, said AH-nee. It is a powerful name for a girl you expect to be running something one day.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Desire
- Pronunciation: eye-SHAH-nee, ee-SHAH-nee
- Popularity: 2025 marked Ishani’s strongest showing yet, #2,569 among U.S. girls in the SSA count.
Ishi
In the kanji system a single name can hold several meanings depending on the characters chosen, and Ishi is a good example, reading as stone, and also as will and volatile. In the book of Hosea, Ishi is the symbolic name meaning my husband. Parents who want a biblical name that is not Sarah or Elizabeth should give it a look.
- Origin: Japanese, Hebrew
- Meaning: Stone
- Pronunciation: IH-shee
- Popularity: Ishi’s last appearance in SSA’s U.S. records was 2023 at #11,590, a fair drop from its 2014 high of #8,663.
Ishika
Ishika stretches from fierce to creative depending on which reading you follow. Daughter of God is the usual one, with paintbrush, arrow, and elephant’s eye also in the mix. That range makes it a good match for an artistic kid with a stubborn streak. Ih-SHEE-kah is the pronunciation to teach the grandparents.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Daughter of God
- Pronunciation: ih-SHEE-kah
- Popularity: Ishika’s 2025 U.S. count landed at #3,863 in SSA data, down from the #2,247 rank it held in 2001.
Isis
Isis is the Egyptian goddess of the moon, healing, and motherhood, and she is still invoked in occult practice thousands of years on. DC Comics and Battlestar Galactica both borrowed the name, though its American history has been rocky and its recent decline is the sharpest of any name in this list. For parents drawn to Egyptian mythology, it remains the heavyweight.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Throne
- Pronunciation: EYE-sis
- Namesakes: Isis Pogson, a British astronomer and meteorologist.
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Isis numbered enough for #1,625 in the SSA’s 2025 data, a steep fall from its 2005 peak of #522.
Isla
Isla is Spanish and Scottish for island, an oasis for anyone worn out by the mainland. It is also an abundant river in Scotland, so the water imagery runs both ways. Australian actress Isla Fisher, of Wedding Crashers, gave it a face and a following. The sound, EYE-lah, is soft enough for a baby and clean enough for an adult.
- Origin: Scottish, Spanish
- Meaning: Island
- Pronunciation: EYE-lah
- Namesakes: Isla Fisher, an Australian actress known for her role in Wedding Crashers.
- Popularity: Isla hit its best rank on record in 2025, #28 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Island
Island will appeal to any parent in need of a break. Tropical names are having a long moment, though most families reach for Isla and skip this one. Like a lot of habitational names it runs unisex, and it doubles as a Norwegian surname for families out of Iceland.
- Origin: English, Norwegian
- Meaning: Island
- Pronunciation: EYE-land
- Popularity: Island held steady at #2,593 in the SSA’s U.S. data for both 2024 and 2025.
Islay
Islay sits with the vacation names, Isla and Havana and the rest. Scots hear the island first, the one they call the Queen of the Hebrides, and there are two Scottish rivers by the name as well. Said EYE-lay, it looks harder on paper than it sounds out loud. Unisex, and mostly used for girls.
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Island
- Pronunciation: EYE-lay
- Popularity: Islay ranked #5,307 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2021 at #3,176. That is up about 343% on the previous decade of births.
Isme
Parents hunting lovable girl names that start with I tend to stop at Isme, a rare turn on Esme that can be read as esteemed, to love, or emerald. Emeralds belong to May, which makes it a neat pick for a spring baby. Two pronunciations, EHZ-may and IZ-may, are both fair game.
- Origin: French, Persian
- Meaning: Esteemed
- Pronunciation: EHZ-may, IZ-may
- Popularity: Isme does not appear in the SSA’s U.S. files, which withhold any name given to fewer than five babies in a year.
Ismenia
Ismenia means great treasure, and older sources read it simply as excellent. It also points to the jasmine flower and its heavy evening scent. Venezuelan politician Ismenia Villalba is its best documented bearer. Celtic and Persian roots make for an unusual pairing in one name.
- Origin: Celtic, Persian
- Meaning: Great treasure
- Pronunciation: is-MEE-nee-uh
- Namesakes: Ismenia Villalba, a Venezuelan politician.
- Popularity: Ismenia last appears in the SSA’s U.S. data in 2000 at #10,208; its best year was 1995 at #4,398.
Isra
Isra appears in the Quran in the account of a long journey taken by night, which is where the meaning comes from. That makes it a natural for a baby born in the small hours. It runs nonbinary and lands mostly on girls, and Izra is the alternate spelling.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Journey of the night
- Pronunciation: IHZ-rah
- Variations: Izra
- Popularity: Isra was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #1,463 in SSA data. That is up about 107% on the previous decade of births.
Israel
Israel is the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God in the Old Testament, and it can also stand for God’s chosen people. Alternate readings include triumphant with God and may God prevail. American usage treats it as a boys’ name, while other countries hand it to either. Two pronunciations are in circulation, IHZ-reel and ihz-RYE-el, and Izrael is the alternate spelling.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Wrestles with God
- Pronunciation: IHZ-reel, ihz-RYE-el
- Variations: Izrael
- Popularity: Israel’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls came to #315, short of the #202 high it posted in 2006.
Issa
Issa can shorten Alyssa, and plenty of families use it on its own. It also carries the reading Jesus, which gives it weight for parents who want faith in the name rather than the middle name. American actress Issa Rae has made it familiar to a generation, and it shows up across the Middle East just as easily as on an American birth certificate.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Strong-willed
- Pronunciation: ih-SAH
- Namesakes: Issa Rae, an American actress known for her role in Barbie.
- Popularity: Issa’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data put it at #1,682, just off the #1,535 mark it reached in 2024.
Issie
Issie is short for Isabella, though fashion-forward parents have been using it straight. Japanese folklore hands the name to a lake monster of the Loch Ness variety, which is a fun fact to keep in your back pocket. It makes a lively alternative to Essie. A second reading, God’s promise, keeps it grounded.
- Origin: Spanish, Italian
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: ISS-ee
- Popularity: 1922 was Issie’s strongest year on record, #4,698 among U.S. girls in SSA data.
Italia
Italia is, without a doubt, the most Italian girl’s name going. LL Cool J made headlines when he named his daughter Italia Anita. It points to a country with a famous eye for clothes and a longer memory for art, and two pronunciations are accepted, eye-TAL-ee-uh and ee-TALL-ee-uh, so the family gets to choose.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Italy
- Pronunciation: eye-TAL-ee-uh, ee-TALL-ee-uh
- Namesakes: Italia Ricci, a Canadian American actress known for her role in Chasing Life.
- Popularity: Italia’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls came to #2,594, short of the #1,389 high it reached in 1917.
Italy
Italy conjures art, architecture, and gelato before anyone gets to the meaning. That meaning, land of young cattle, is about abundance, which is a nicer thought than it first sounds. Italian-inspired names like Milan get picked constantly while the country itself sits unused. Italee is the alternate spelling.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Land of young cattle
- Pronunciation: IH-tuh-LEE
- Variations: Italee
- Popularity: Italy’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data reached #1,936, off its #1,592 peak from 2021.
Itzae
If you are after Mayan women’s names that start with I, Itzae fits the bill. It reads as gift of God, with blessing of God offered as an alternative. Two pronunciations, IHTZ-eye and IHTZ-ay, give families room to move, and the meaning alone makes it a name with real weight behind it.
- Origin: Mayan
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: IHTZ-eye, IHTZ-ay
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Itzae reached #2,621 in the SSA’s 2025 data, down from a 2020 high of #1,564.
Itzayana
Itzayana blends Mayan, Basque, and Spanish roots into one long, rolling name. It reads as shadow and protection, with rainbow lady offered as a second interpretation. It is the feminine turn on names like Itzal, which traditionally went to soldiers. Yana or Ana will do when the full five syllables are more than the moment calls for.
- Origin: Mayan, Basque, Spanish
- Meaning: Shadow, protection
- Pronunciation: iht-zay-AH-nuh
- Popularity: Itzayana’s 2025 SSA ranking for U.S. girls came to #1,637, short of the #760 high it hit in 2018.
Itzel
In Mayan mythology Itzel is the goddess of midwifery and medicine, credited in folklore with all-natural remedies. That makes it a quietly perfect choice for a family in the birth world. The meaning, star of the Aurora sky, is about as pretty as a translation gets. Mexican Olympic sprint canoer Itzel Reza has carried it to the water. Hispanic families in the United States have kept it in steady use for decades.
- Origin: Mayan, Native American
- Meaning: Star of the Aurora sky
- Pronunciation: it-ZELL
- Variations: Itzell, Itzelle
- Namesakes: Itzel Reza, a Mexican Olympic sprint canoer.
- Popularity: Itzel’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data reached #359, just off the #328 peak it hit in 2005.
Iulia
Iulia is a variant of Julia, and it means youthful. The Julius connection brings Roman history along for the ride. It is also the name of a town in Lydia, which is an unexpected footnote. Romanian poet Iulia Hasdeu is its literary bearer. A stray reading of downy-bearded gives the whole thing a wink.
- Origin: Greek, Latin, Romanian
- Meaning: Devoted to Jove
- Pronunciation: YOO-lee-uh
- Namesakes: Iulia Hasdeu, a Romanian poet.
- Popularity: Iulia has yet to clear the SSA’s five-birth threshold for U.S. publication.
Iva
Iva is a short form of Ivana that long ago took on a life of its own. In Scandinavian usage it is the feminine of Ivar, meaning warrior, while the Hebrew thread gives God is gracious. Croatian tennis player Iva Majoli put it on the trophy list, and American soap fans may recognize it from As the World Turns.
- Origin: Slavic, French, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious, yew
- Pronunciation: EYE-vah
- Namesakes: Iva Majoli, a Croatian tennis player.
- Popularity: Iva’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls landed at #1,740, well off the #190 high it posted in 1915.
Ivana
Ivana is the elegant relative of Jane and Joanna, all of them built on the idea that God is gracious. It is most at home in Slavic families. Serbian singer and songwriter Ivana Peters gives it a modern credit. Classic names always circle back, and this one is due.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: ee-VAH-nuh, ih-VAH-nuh
- Variations: Ivanna
- Namesakes: Ivana Peters, a Serbian singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Ivana sits at #1,102 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #852 in 1990.
Ivanka
Ivanka is the feminine form of Ivan, and it can also be read as God was merciful. Bulgarian opera singer Ivanka Ninova gave it a stage, and the musical Once put it in front of theater audiences too. Most Americans will think of businesswoman Ivanka Trump first, which is worth knowing before you commit.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: ee-VAHN-kuh, ih-VAHN-kuh
- Namesakes: Ivanka Ninova, a Bulgarian opera singer.
- Popularity: Ivanka ranked #2,028 among U.S. girls in 2025; its best year on record was 2017 at #1,394. That is up about 193% on the previous decade of births.
Iveliss
Iveliss has a debatable origin, with some pointing to Latin American roots and others to European roots. Either way it means life, and it sounds like it. Alternate interpretations include vine, which nudges it toward Ivy. Liss or Eve if you want something shorter on the school forms.
- Origin: French, Spanish
- Meaning: Life
- Pronunciation: EEV-liss, EYE-vuh-LISS
- Popularity: Iveliss stays off the SSA’s U.S. files entirely, which withhold any name given to fewer than five babies in a year.
Ivette
Ivette is a fresh cut of Yvette, a name France has kept in circulation for centuries. Alternate readings include archer, fitting for a small person with good aim. French flair and Spanish sophistication in one name is a rare combination. American actress Ivette Sosa, of Eden’s Crush, carries it. Whichever spelling a family lands on, the French and Spanish roots travel together well.
- Origin: French, Spanish
- Meaning: Yew
- Pronunciation: ih-VEHT, ee-VEHT
- Variations: Yvette
- Namesakes: Ivette Sosa, an American actress known for her role in Eden’s Crush.
- Popularity: Ivette sits at #2,110 in the SSA’s 2025 U.S. data, having peaked at #569 in 1991.
Ivie
Ivie is a variation of Ivy, though it is far likelier to be said EE-vee. Pokemon fans will hear Eevee in it immediately, which is either a selling point or a dealbreaker. It belongs on any list of 4-letter I names for girls, and Evie is the alternate spelling for families who want the more familiar look.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Ornamental plant
- Pronunciation: EE-vee
- Variations: Evie, Eevee
- Popularity: Ivie’s rank in the SSA’s 2025 data was #1,801, softer than its 1915 mark of #1,496, even though births are up about 104% over the past decade.
Ivonne
Ivonne is the rarer relative of Yvonne, and it doubles as the feminine of Ivo, meaning God is gracious. The yew reading connects to archery, since bows were once made from yew wood, which is where the second meaning of archer comes from. Puerto Rican director Ivonne Belen is among its bearers. It is on point in more ways than one.
- Origin: German, Dutch, Spanish
- Meaning: Yew
- Pronunciation: WHY-von, ih-VON
- Namesakes: Ivonne Belen, a Puerto Rican director.
- Popularity: Ivonne’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls came to #4,922, well short of its 1993 high of #907.
Ivorine
Ivorine is a variation of Ivory, the soft off-white that sits between cream and bone. It is a gorgeous, largely unclaimed option, which means your daughter is unlikely to meet another. The color connection alone gives it a soft, almost painterly feel.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Pale, white
- Pronunciation: eye-vor-EEN
- Popularity: Ivorine carries no U.S. rank on record, since the SSA withholds any name short of its five-birth floor.
Ivory
Ivory names a color and a material at once, which gives it beauty and a complicated history in the same breath. The Bible mentions it in Ezekiel, in a passage about building. American basketball player Ivory Latta made it a name on a jersey. It has run in spurts since 1900 rather than climbing steadily, and it is having one of those spurts now. By the second week, most people are already down to Ree.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Pale
- Pronunciation: EYE-vree
- Variations: Ivoree
- Namesakes: Ivory Latta, an American basketball player.
- Popularity: Ivory was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #378 in SSA data. That is up about 197% on the previous decade of births.
Ivy
Ivy is the climbing plant traditionally given to newlyweds, and it stands for eternal life and devotion. That religious undertone sits comfortably behind a name most people simply find pretty. Beyonce put it back in circulation when she named her daughter Blue Ivy in 2012. English novelist Ivy Compton-Burnett had it first. Three letters, no ambiguity, and one of the four I names inside the current top 100.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Vine
- Pronunciation: EYE-vee
- Variations: Ivey, Ivee
- Namesakes: Ivy Compton-Burnett, an English novelist.
- Popularity: Ivy’s 2025 SSA count for U.S. girls landed at #39, just off the #36 high it posted in 2024.
Ivyann
Ivyann joins the combination names, the Maryann tradition. It braids the winding ivy vine together with a reading of grace and mercy. Because so few families have used it, there is no story attached yet, so your daughter gets to write it herself.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Ivy, grace
- Pronunciation: EYE-vee-ANN
- Variations: Iveyann, Ivyanne
- Popularity: Ivyann’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data put it at #15,851, a touch behind the #14,169 mark it reached in 2024.
Iyana
Iyana carries God is gracious, and a second reading gives it sunshine. It has an unmistakable early 2000s feeling, which is right on schedule for a comeback. Ee-YAH-nuh is smooth enough that people rarely ask twice. Good for cloudy days.
- Origin: Spanish, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: ee-YAH-nuh
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Iyana reached #2,872 in the SSA’s 2025 data, well off its 2002 high of #751.
Iyla
Iyla may sound like Isla, but the two live on different continents. It refers to the moon’s gentle glow, which suits a baby born after dark. Steve Hart made waves when he chose Iyla Vue for his daughter, and expect people to ask you to say it twice.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Moonlight
- Pronunciation: EYE-lah
- Popularity: Iyla was strongest in 2025, its best U.S. showing on record at #525 in SSA data.
Izel
Izel comes from Eidel, a masculine name read as unique or delicate, and it can also be a turn on Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of medicine. The meaning that stuck is only one, which suits an only child or a long-awaited daughter. Marvel put an Izel in the multiverse. The meaning alone makes it a fitting pick for a family’s one and only.
- Origin: Turkish, Aztec
- Meaning: Only one
- Pronunciation: ee-ZELL
- Popularity: Izel’s U.S. count in the SSA’s 2025 data put it at #2,836, down from the #1,878 high it hit in 2011.
Izzy
Izzy usually rides along behind Isabella, and it is rarely handed out on its own. It runs unisex because it also shortens Isaiah, the biblical prophet. The look is edgy and the meaning, God’s promise, is anything but. With Izzy you never quite know what you are going to get.
- Origin: English, Hebrew
- Meaning: God’s promise
- Pronunciation: IH-zee
- Popularity: U.S. girls named Izzy reached #1,903 in the SSA’s 2025 data, still below its 2022 high of #1,534, a rise of about 174% measured against the decade before.
