Ihor

Ihor is a Ukrainian given name, the Ukrainian form of Igor. It derives from the Old Norse name Ingvarr, traditionally interpreted as meaning “Ing’s warrior” or “warrior of Ing.” The name entered East Slavic usage through medieval contact with Norse cultures and has been widely adopted in Ukraine and Ukrainian communities abroad.

In Ukrainian usage, the name is written Ігор and pronounced roughly as [ˈiɦɔr]. When rendered in English, it is commonly transliterated as Ihor or Igor, depending on the language conventions used. The form Ihor is typically used in Ukrainian contexts and in formal or academic discussions about Ukrainian culture, language, and history. Various diminutives and affectionate forms exist in Ukrainian, reflecting regional and familial customs.

Culturally, Ihor shares the historical and literary associations of its more widely known variant Igor, including connections to the era of Kievan Rus’ and to figures appearing in Slavic folklore and modern literature. The name remains common in Ukraine and among Ukrainian communities, where it is associated with heritage and national linguistic identity.

Notable people with the name include Ihor Kolomoyskyi (born 1963), a Ukrainian businessman and former governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. As with many traditional names, Ihor continues to be used across generations, signaling continuity with Ukrainian linguistic and cultural traditions.