Ignatius
From Latin Ignātius, variant of gens name Egnātius, altered to resemble ignis (“fire”), establishing a folk etymology meaning akin to “Fiery One”.
Every Ignatius since 1885 — 4,075 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ignatius
Ignatius is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,664 in 2025 with 100 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1885, 4,075 American babies have been named Ignatius. Its peak came in 2025, when 100 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Ignatius stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ignatius year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 100 | #1,664 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1,742 |
| 2023 | 89 | #1,807 |
| 2022 | 85 | #1,864 |
| 2021 | 84 | #1,844 |
| 2020 | 80 | #1,855 |
| 2019 | 79 | #1,892 |
| 2018 | 78 | #1,905 |
| 2017 | 70 | #2,025 |
| 2016 | 62 | #2,190 |
| 2015 | 60 | #2,242 |
| 2014 | 41 | #2,862 |
| 2013 | 48 | #2,546 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3,021 |
| 2011 | 52 | #2,416 |
| 2010 | 35 | #3,198 |
| 2009 | 34 | #3,291 |
| 2008 | 33 | #3,374 |
| 2007 | 28 | #3,730 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4,143 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5,123 |
| 2004 | 15 | #5,349 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5,668 |
| 2002 | 23 | #3,715 |
| 2001 | 7 | #8,643 |
| 2000 | 7 | #8,538 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,193 |
| 1990 | 9 | #5,545 |
| 1985 | 10 | #4,170 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | 8 | #4,093 |
| 1970 | 8 | #3,645 |
| 1965 | 19 | #1,830 |
| 1960 | 18 | #1,940 |
| 1955 | 26 | #1,517 |
| 1950 | 16 | #1,913 |
| 1945 | 16 | #1,729 |
| 1940 | 25 | #1,348 |
| 1935 | 25 | #1,377 |
| 1930 | 71 | #760 |
| 1925 | 60 | #862 |
| 1920 | 97 | #642 |
| 1915 | 81 | #645 |
| 1910 | 20 | #666 |
| 1905 | 11 | #768 |
| 1900 | 11 | #813 |
| 1895 | 8 | #832 |
| 1890 | 9 | #701 |
| 1885 | 5 | #1,015 |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Ignatius
- Ignatius of Loyola Religious figure · 1491–1556
- Ignatius of Antioch Religious figure · 35–108
- Ignatius Moses I Daoud Religious figure · 1930–2012
- Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei Religious figure · 1901–2000
- Ignatius IV of Antioch Religious figure · 1920–2012
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ignatius mean?
From Latin Ignātius, variant of gens name Egnātius, altered to resemble ignis (“fire”), establishing a folk etymology meaning akin to “Fiery One”.
How popular is the name Ignatius in 2025?
Ignatius ranked #1,664 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 100 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ignatius?
4,075 babies have been named Ignatius in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ignatius most popular?
Ignatius peaked in 2025, when 100 newborns received the name.
Is Ignatius a boy or girl name?
Ignatius is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ignatius rising or falling?
Ignatius is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ignatius?
Well-known people named Ignatius include Ignatius of Loyola (religious figure), Ignatius of Antioch (religious figure), Ignatius Moses I Daoud (religious figure).