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At a Glance
- Meaning
- God is gracious (via John)
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Primarily used for boys
- Pronunciation
- EE-un
Iain is the Scottish Gaelic form of John, and it means "God is gracious." It's pronounced EE-un, so the spelling looks trickier than the name actually sounds. If you like the sound of Ian but want a spelling with a clear Scottish Gaelic stamp, this is it.
Meaning & Origin of Iain
Meaning: God is gracious (via John).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Iain
EE-unIPA /ˈiːən/
Popularity of Iain
Iain peaked at #1181 in 2003, when 126 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #4227 with 25 babies, so a child named Iain today will rarely share the name with a classmate.
Names Like Iain
These names have followed a similar path to Iain in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Iain mean?
God is gracious (via John). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Iain?
Iain is pronounced EE-un (IPA: /ˈiːən/).
Is Iain a popular name right now?
Iain peaked at #1181 in 2003 and is ranked #4227 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1953–2024.)
Make Iain Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Iain, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Iain? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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