Ivory

♂ Boy

Pronounced EYE-və-ree /ˈaɪ.və.ri/High

Meaning: The white tusk-material prized for millennia; from Latin ebur via Old French, used as a given name with deep African American historyHigh

In 30 seconds: Piano keys, chess sets, and towers of thought: Ivory names the precious white material — and carries a longer American first-name history than most word names, especially for sons.

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Origin HighEnglish, Latin

MeaningThe white tusk-material prized for millennia; from Latin ebur via Old French, used as a given name with deep African American history

U.S. rank (2025)#3693 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births30 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1950

Total births (all-time)≈ 8,567

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

Ivory descends from Latin ebur through French — the elephant's treasure that built piano keys, billiard balls, and metaphors from soap purity to academic towers. As a given name it has marked American records since the 1800s, notably among Black families, with NFL players (Ivory Lee Brown-era onward) and bluesman Ivory Joe Hunter carrying it.

Modern sensitivity about the material's elephant cost shadows the word without erasing the name's heritage. For boys it is now rare and distinguished — gloss and grain together.

Did you know? Ebony and Ivory aren't just a duet — both materials named real people for generations, with Ivory serving as an American men's name since the nineteenth century.

Overall data confidence 88%

Oxford English Dictionary — ivory — word etymology

Variations

IvorieIvor

Nicknames

IvoRee

Famous Bearers

★Ivory Joe Hunter (1914–1974)
American rhythm-and-blues singer and songwriter, 'the Baron of the Boogie'.

If you like Ivory…

Sterling— a fellow precious-substance pick

Onyx— the dark gem balancing ivory's white

Reginald— a similarly popular pick

Zackary— lands in the same popularity range

Zachery— another English name

Explore names like Ivory

By themeamerican word-name vintage

By meaningGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ivory mean?

Ivory is the precious white tusk-material, from Latin ebur, long used as an American given name.

How do you pronounce Ivory?

It's said EYE-və-ree /ˈaɪ.və.ri/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ivory a boy or girl name?

Ivory serves both sexes; it has a particularly long history for boys, which this page covers.

How popular is Ivory?

Ivory is a rare name in the U.S. today.