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As a mom and a professional baby namer, I *obsess* over helping expecting mamas discover the perfect name for their little one. Whether you’re dreaming of a name that’s sweet and familiar or something more daring, *these* are my top picks for baby girl names starting with i –
Earthy Girl Names That Start with I
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Geographical Girl Names That Start with I
Hippie Girl Names That Start with I
Earthy Girl Names That Start with I
Earthy I names for little girls reflect the natural beauty and nature in the world around us.
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: EYE-drah · ˈaɪdrə
- Meaning: linked to Hydra, the mythical multi-headed serpent
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: EYE-ris · ˈaɪrɪs
- Meaning: rainbow; also the name of the Greek goddess/messenger of the rainbow, and the flower named after her
- Popularity: #71 and rising (#78 → #71, 2024)
- Origin: English (modern given name from the word ‘ivory’, the surname is habitational, from Ivry in Normandy, or a patronymic diminutive of Ivor)
- Pronunciation: EYE-vor-ee · ˈaɪvəri
- Meaning: ivory, white/pure (as the tusk material)
- Popularity: #404 and rising (#520 → #404, 2024)
Geographical Girl Names That Start with I
Geographical I names are inspired by places around the globe, adding a touch of wanderlust to your little one’s name.
- Origin: English (U.S. place name)
- Pronunciation: in-dee-AN-ah · ˌɪndiˈænə
- Meaning: named for the historic Indiana Territory, itself named for its Native American population
- Popularity: #2,249 and falling (#2,025 → #2,249, 2024)
Ireland
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: land of abundance
Israel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God contended
Hippie Girl Names That Start with I
Hippie I names for girls bring a free-spirited and peaceful vibe, perfect for a little one with a love for nature.
- Origin: English
- Pronunciation: IN-dee · ˈɪndi
- Meaning: independent
- Popularity: #651 and falling (#577 → #651, 2024)
- Origin: Greek (via the color/dye name)
- Pronunciation: IN-dih-goh · ˈɪndɪˌɡoʊ
- Meaning: named after the deep-blue indigo dye/color
- Popularity: #923 and rising (#961 → #923, 2024)
- Origin: Scottish (place name)
- Pronunciation: EYE-lah · ˈaɪlə
- Meaning: from the Scottish place name Islay/River Isla; the place name’s own root is unknown
- Popularity: #35 and falling (#33 → #35, 2024)
- Origin: English
- Pronunciation: EYE-vee · ˈaɪvi
- Meaning: the climbing ivy plant, a traditional symbol of fidelity
- Popularity: #36 and rising (#38 → #36, 2024)
Unique Girl Names That Start with I
Unique girl names starting with the letter I stand out with their distinctiveness and individuality, making a statement all their own.
- Origin: Greek (via Latin)
- Pronunciation: ih-DAHL-yuh · ɪˈdɑːljə
- Meaning: linked to Idalium, an ancient Cypriot city sacred to Aphrodite
- Popularity: #1,716 and falling (#1,402 → #1,716, 2024)
- Origin: Russian
- Pronunciation: IL-yah · ˈɪljə
- Meaning: the Lord is my God (form of Elijah/Eliyahu)
- Popularity: #7,031 and falling (#5,823 → #7,031, 2024)
- Origin: Sanskrit; also Latvian (independent usage)
- Pronunciation: IN-drah · ˈɪndrə
- Meaning: name of the Vedic/Hindu god of rain, thunder, and war; used independently as a feminine given name in Latvia
- Popularity: #10,559 and falling (#8,660 → #10,559, 2024)
- Origin: modern coinage
- Pronunciation: eer-ih-DESS-ah · ˌɪrɪˈdɛsə
- Meaning: of iris, rainbow
- Popularity: #6,731 and rising (#8,218 → #6,731, 2024)
- Origin: German/Dutch (short form of Isabel); also Arabic (form of Jesus)
- Pronunciation: EE-suh · ˈiːsə
- Meaning: as a short form of Isabel, ‘pledged to God’; as the Arabic name for Jesus (used by Muslims), linked to the idea of ‘God saves’
- Popularity: #1,968 and rising (#2,249 → #1,968, 2024)
Vintage Girl Names That Start with I
Looking for nostalgic charm? These vintage girl names starting with I is your collection!
- Origin: Italian/Latin form of Isabel, ultimately Hebrew
- Pronunciation: iz-ah-BELL-ah · ˌɪzəˈbɛlə
- Meaning: pledged to God
- Popularity: #7, holding steady (2024)
- Origin: Greek (variant of Isidora)
- Pronunciation: iz-uh-DOR-uh · ɪzəˈdɔːrə
- Meaning: gift of the goddess Isis
- Popularity: #1,223 and rising (#1,438 → #1,223, 2024)
- Origin: Germanic
- Pronunciation: EYE-dah · ˈaɪdə
- Meaning: from a Germanic word for ‘work’; industrious
- Popularity: #1,143 and rising (#1,189 → #1,143, 2024)
- Origin: uncertain (probably Gaelic, via a misprint of ‘Innogen’)
- Pronunciation: IM-oh-jeen · ˈɪməˌdʒiːn
- Meaning: uncertain; possibly from Gaelic ‘inghean’ (girl) via a misprint of ‘Innogen’
- Popularity: #2,464 and rising (#2,911 → #2,464, 2024)
- Origin: German/Latin (short form of -ina names)
- Pronunciation: EE-nah · ˈiːnə
- Meaning: pure, or lover of horses
- Popularity: #2,636 and rising (#3,931 → #2,636, 2024)
- Origin: English (anglicized form of Spanish Inés / Portuguese Inês)
- Pronunciation: EYE-nez · ˈaɪnɛz
- Meaning: pure, holy — ultimately from the Greek word for ‘pure,’ via Agnes
- Popularity: #1,407 and rising (#1,639 → #1,407, 2024)
- Origin: Slavic (feminine form related to Ivan)
- Pronunciation: EYE-vah · ˈaɪvə
- Meaning: God is gracious (via Ivan/John)
- Popularity: #2,170 and falling (#2,026 → #2,170, 2024)
More Names We Love
- Origin: Spanish (from Hebrew via Greek/Latin)
- Pronunciation: IZ-uh-bel · ˈɪzəbɛl
- Meaning: Spanish form of Elizabeth: ‘my God is an oath’
- Popularity: #167 and falling (#164 → #167, 2024)
- Origin: Swahili
- Pronunciation: ih-MAH-nee · ɪˈmɑːni
- Meaning: faith
- Popularity: #526 and falling (#476 → #526, 2024)
- Origin: Ukrainian
- Pronunciation: ih-VAH-nah · ɪˈvɑːnə
- Meaning: God is gracious (via Ivan/John)
- Popularity: #556 and rising (#593 → #556, 2024)
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: eye-REEN · aɪˈriːn
- Meaning: peace
- Popularity: #638 and rising (#675 → #638, 2024)
- Origin: Arabic (via Urdu Inayat)
- Pronunciation: ih-NAY-uh · ɪˈneɪə
- Meaning: care, concern (often extended to ‘divine favor’)
- Popularity: #760 and falling (#737 → #760, 2024)
- Origin: Old Norse
- Pronunciation: ING-grid · ˈɪŋɡrɪd
- Meaning: compound of the Norse god-element ‘Ing’ and a word for ‘beautiful, beloved’
- Popularity: #1,092 and rising (#1,148 → #1,092, 2024)
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Pronunciation: ih-SHAH-nee · ɪˈʃɑːni
- Meaning: goddess (a name of Parvati/Durga, consort of Shiva); literally ‘female ruler’
- Popularity: #3,126 and falling (#2,912 → #3,126, 2024)
- Origin: Spanish/Italian (from German Irmhild)
- Pronunciation: ih-MEL-duh · ɪˈmɛldə
- Meaning: great/whole battle
- Popularity: #3,658 and rising (#4,398 → #3,658, 2024)
- Origin: Italian (from Latin hilarius)
- Pronunciation: ih-LAH-ree-ah · ɪˈlɑːriə
- Meaning: cheerful
- Popularity: #3,986 and falling (#3,150 → #3,986, 2024)
- Origin: Russian (from Spanish Inés, ultimately Greek Agnes)
- Pronunciation: ee-NESS-uh · ɪˈnɛsə
- Meaning: pure, chaste
- Popularity: #4,225 and rising (#5,299 → #4,225, 2024)
- Origin: Japanese
- Pronunciation: ee-ZOO-mee · iˈzuːmi
- Meaning: spring, fountain
- Popularity: #6,737 and rising (#9,872 → #6,737, 2024)
- Origin: Latin/Greek place name (Isauria, ancient Anatolian region), via Portuguese
- Pronunciation: ee-ZOW-rah · iːˈzaʊrə
- Meaning: from Isauria, an ancient region of Anatolia
- Popularity: #7,350 and rising (#9,236 → #7,350, 2024)
- Origin: Germanic or Celtic/Brythonic (disputed)
- Pronunciation: ih-ZOHL-dah · ɪˈzoʊldə
- Meaning: uncertain — literally ‘ice’ + ‘battle’ in the Germanic reading, or ‘she who is gazed upon’ in the Celtic/Brythonic reading
- Popularity: #7,721 and falling (#5,458 → #7,721, 2024)
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: eye-AN-thee · aɪˈænθi
- Meaning: violet flower
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Old Norse
- Pronunciation: EE-dun · ˈiːdʌn
- Meaning: the ever-young or rejuvenating one
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Yoruba
- Pronunciation: EE-feh · ˈiːfɛ
- Meaning: love
- Popularity: #10,090 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Igbo
- Pronunciation: ih-JOH-mah · ɪˈdʒoʊmə
- Meaning: good/safe journey
- Popularity: #11,773 as of 2019 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Hebrew
- Pronunciation: een-BAHR · inˈbɑːr
- Meaning: amber
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Old Norse
- Pronunciation: ING-uh-borg · ˈɪŋəbɔːrɡ
- Meaning: a compound of the god-name Ing and Old Norse ‘björg’ (help/protection) — roughly ‘Ing’s protection’
- Popularity: #9,515 as of 1981 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Pronunciation: ee-vah-LAH-nee · iːvəˈlɑːni
- Meaning: heavenly seabird (frigatebird of the sky)
- Popularity: #16,493 as of 2019 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Basque
- Pronunciation: EE-zar · ˈiːzɑːr
- Meaning: star
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Finnish (mythology)
- Pronunciation: EEL-mah-tar · ˈiːlmɑtɑr
- Meaning: spirit/daughter of the air, from Finnish ilma ‘air’ + the feminine suffix -tar
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Spanish (from Latin)
- Pronunciation: een-mah-koo-LAH-dah · inmakuˈlaða
- Meaning: immaculate, spotless
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Igbo
- Pronunciation: ee-foo-NAHN-yah · iːfʊˈnɑːnjə
- Meaning: love
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Yoruba
- Pronunciation: ee-bee-DOON · iːbiːˈduːn
- Meaning: sweet birth / born into joy (Yoruba bí ‘to be born’ + dùn ‘to be sweet, pleasant’); usually a shortening of a longer name such as Ìbídùnmóyè
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Igbo
- Pronunciation: ee-see-OH-mah · iːsiˈɔːmə
- Meaning: good fortune, source of goodness (Igbo isi ‘source/head’ + ọma ‘good’)
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: West Frisian (Germanic, from element “irmin” — whole/universal)
- Pronunciation: IM-kuh · ˈɪmkə
- Meaning: whole, universal
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Turkish
- Pronunciation: EEL-kye · ˈiːlkaɪ
- Meaning: the first (new) moon
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Pronunciation: in-doo-RAY-kah · ɪnduːˈreɪkə
- Meaning: a streak of the crescent moon
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: eye-AY-soh · aɪˈeɪsoʊ
- Meaning: healing, recovery
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: if-ih-meh-DAY-uh · ˌɪfɪmɪˈdeɪə
- Meaning: mighty in strength and counsel
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Greek
- Pronunciation: EYE-inks · ˈaɪɪŋks
- Meaning: the wryneck (a bird used in ancient Greek love-magic)
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Yoruba (compound)
- Pronunciation: ee-feh-oh-LOO-wah · iːfɛəʊˈluːwɑː
- Meaning: God’s love (literally ‘love of the Lord’)
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Yoruba
- Pronunciation: ee-YAH-baw · i.já.bɔ́
- Meaning: mother has returned
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
- Origin: Japanese (see note)
- Pronunciation: EE-koo · ˈiːkuː
- Meaning: growing, nurturing
- Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings
How These Names Are Trending
18 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 13 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.
How These Names Are Trending
18 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 13 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.
How These Names Are Trending
11 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 7 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.
How These Names Are Trending
11 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 7 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.
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Wrapping Up
Naming your baby girl is such an exciting adventure, isn’t it? I hope these I names have sparked some great ideas for you. Whether you’re into earthy vibes, love the idea of a name with a geographical twist, or lean towards hippie, unique, country, or vintage styles, there’s something special here for every mom. Good luck finding that perfect name that just clicks for your little one.
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