Iain
From Scottish Gaelic. Cognate of John; see there for more.
Every Iain since 1953 — 2,911 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Iain
Iain is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,357 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1953, 2,911 American babies have been named Iain. Its peak came in 2003, when 126 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Iain stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Iain year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #7,357 |
| 2024 | 25 | #4,244 |
| 2023 | 24 | #4,387 |
| 2022 | 27 | #4,029 |
| 2021 | 23 | #4,420 |
| 2020 | 45 | #2,740 |
| 2019 | 43 | #2,873 |
| 2018 | 38 | #3,067 |
| 2017 | 35 | #3,269 |
| 2016 | 44 | #2,740 |
| 2015 | 50 | #2,501 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2,261 |
| 2013 | 48 | #2,545 |
| 2012 | 69 | #2,020 |
| 2011 | 69 | #1,991 |
| 2010 | 67 | #2,046 |
| 2009 | 95 | #1,658 |
| 2008 | 79 | #1,847 |
| 2007 | 85 | #1,750 |
| 2006 | 90 | #1,607 |
| 2005 | 106 | #1,405 |
| 2004 | 124 | #1,226 |
| 2003 | 126 | #1,181 |
| 2002 | 113 | #1,218 |
| 2001 | 98 | #1,329 |
| 2000 | 95 | #1,344 |
| 1995 | 63 | #1,519 |
| 1990 | 29 | #2,397 |
| 1985 | 29 | #1,987 |
| 1980 | 16 | #2,879 |
| 1975 | 15 | #2,684 |
| 1970 | 19 | #2,088 |
| 1965 | 14 | #2,216 |
| 1960 | 8 | #3,193 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Iain
- Iain Glen Actor · b. 1961
- Iain Banks Writer · 1954–2013
- Iain Pears Historian · b. 1955
- Iain Duncan Smith Politician · b. 1954
- Iain Armitage Actor · b. 2008
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Iain mean?
From Scottish Gaelic. Cognate of John; see there for more.
How popular is the name Iain in 2025?
Iain ranked #7,357 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Iain?
2,911 babies have been named Iain in the United States since 1953, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Iain most popular?
Iain peaked in 2003, when 126 newborns received the name.
Is Iain a boy or girl name?
Iain is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Iain rising or falling?
Iain is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Iain?
Well-known people named Iain include Iain Glen (actor), Iain Banks (writer), Iain Pears (historian).