Ian

Alternative forms

• Iain

Etymology

An anglicisation of Scottish Gaelic Eóin, the Gaelic equivalent of the name John. The name originated in Ireland, and was taken from there to Scotland, where the modern form Iain co-exists with it. In Ireland it was largely supplanted by the later forms Seaan, Seón, and Seóan, of which the modern form is Seán (anglicised as Sean).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iːən/

Proper noun

Ian

1. A male given name.
   • 1975, Robertson Davies, World of Wonders, →ISBN, page 736:

     “If you want a Scotch name why don’t you call him Jock?” Macgregor looked disgusted. “Because Jock is not a name, but a diminutive, as everybody knows well. It is the diminutive of John. And John is not a Scots name. The Scots form of that name is Ian. If you want to call him Ian Fetch, I shall say no more”.

References

• Concerning the names Iain, Ian, and Eoin by Josh Mittleman

Anagrams

• ANI, Ain, Ani, Ina, NIA, Nia, ain', ani, ina

Etymology

From English Ian.

Noun

Ian

1. a male given name