Ivan

♂ Boy

Pronounced EYE-van /ˈaɪ.vən/High

Meaning: God is gracious — Slavic form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan (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 Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious)

U.S. rank (2025)#163 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births2,240 boys (0.13% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 150,109

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

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

Ivaan— a fellow Hebrew choice

Ilan— a similarly popular pick

Canaan— shares the -an ending

Explore names like Ivan

By meaningGod / Divine Grace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ivan mean?

Ivan is the Slavic form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan, 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.