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Ivan

♂ Boy

Pronounced EYE-van /ˈaɪ.vən/High

Meaning: God is gracious — Slavic form of John, from Hebrew <em>Yohanan</em> (Yahweh is gracious)High

In 30 seconds: The Slavic equivalent of John, Ivan carries the same ancient Hebrew meaning — 'God is gracious' — and a rich history of Russian tsars, saints, and literary heroes.
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Origin HighSlavic, Hebrew
MeaningGod is gracious — Slavic form of John, from Hebrew <em>Yohanan</em> (Yahweh is gracious)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 130,339

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200418802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ivan is the East Slavic form of John, itself from the Latin Iohannes, which traces to the Greek Iōannēs and ultimately to Hebrew Yohanan, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' The name has been immensely popular throughout Russia, Ukraine, and the broader Slavic world for over a millennium, borne by saints, tsars, and literary characters alike.

Ivan has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century, partly through literary exposure to Russian culture. In the United States it has maintained steady popularity, particularly in Hispanic communities where it is also common. Notable bearers include Ivan the Terrible (Tsar Ivan IV) and tennis legend Ivan Lendl.

Did you know? Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV, 1530–1584) was the first ruler to be crowned Tsar of all Russia. Despite his fearsome epithet, the Russian word grozny translated as 'terrible' also carries connotations of 'awesome' or 'formidable.'

Variations

Yvan

Nicknames

VanVanya

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) (1530–1584)
    First Tsar of Russia, one of the most prominent bearers of the name in history.
  • ★Ivan Lendl (b. 1960)
    Czech-American tennis legend and eight-time Grand Slam singles champion.

If you like Ivan…

Roman— strong Slavic/Latin two-syllable name with the same timeless masculine feel
Sebastian— classic European name popular across similar multicultural audiences

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ivan mean?

Ivan is the Slavic form of John, from Hebrew <em>Yohanan</em>, meaning 'God is gracious' or 'Yahweh is gracious.'

How do you pronounce Ivan?

In English, Ivan is pronounced EYE-van /ˈaɪ.vən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Ivan a boy or girl name?

Ivan is a boys' name.

How popular is Ivan?

Ivan has been a steady presence in U.S. top-200 boys' names for decades, especially popular in Hispanic and Eastern European communities.