Ian

Ian is a masculine given name, used primarily in English-speaking countries. It is the Scottish form of John, ultimately derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning “God is gracious.” The name became popular in Scotland and later spread more broadly through the English-speaking world. Variants include Iain (Gaelic spelling) and Eoin (Irish); the form Ian is common across the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Notable bearers include Ian Fleming (1908–1964), British writer and creator of James Bond; Ian McKellen (born 1939), English actor; Ian McEwan (born 1948), English novelist; Ian Thorpe (born 1982), Australian swimmer and Olympic champion; Ian Wright (born 1963), English footballer.

In fiction, Ian has been used for various characters, including Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park.