Ivory

At a Glance: Name: Ivory – Meaning: ivory, white/pure (as the tusk material) – Origin: English (modern given name from the word 'ivory', the surname is habitational, from Ivry in Normandy, or a patronymic diminutive of Ivor) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: EYE-vor-ee

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Ivory is a modern given name, used for both boys and girls, that comes straight from the word for the white material of an elephant's tusk — so the name genuinely does mean white, or pure. It's pronounced EYE-vor-ee. If you've come across Ivory as a surname too, that version has a different root: it traces back to the Norman place name Ivry, or serves as a diminutive of Ivor, so only the first-name use actually carries that tusk-white meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Ivory

Meaning: Ivory, white/pure (as the tusk material).

Origin: English (modern given name from the word 'ivory', the surname is habitational, from Ivry in Normandy, or a patronymic diminutive of Ivor).

A common claim: Ivory is said to mean 'white as elephant tusks' or 'pure white.' Actually: Many assume the surname itself comes from the word 'ivory,' but it actually traces to the Norman place name Ivry (or a diminutive of Ivor); only the modern first-name usage genuinely reflects the tusk material.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ivory

Phonetic: EYE-vor-ee   IPA: /ˈaɪvəri/

Popularity of Ivory

In Social Security data stretching back to 1880, Ivory has never ranked higher than it does right now: #404 in 2024, the year it was given to 784 babies.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Ivory Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Ivory, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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FAQ

What does the name Ivory mean?

Ivory, white/pure (as the tusk material). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ivory)

How do you pronounce Ivory?

Ivory is pronounced EYE-vor-ee (IPA: /ˈaɪvəri/).

Is Ivory a popular name right now?

Ivory is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #404 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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