Unlike baby girl names that begin with A and baby girl names that begin with E, the letter I has not joined its fellow vowels as a popular first letter of names Of course, there's one huge exception-- Isabella, which is all the rage, especially in the United States. However, other than Isabella (and its variants Isabelle and isabel), names beginning with the letter I have not cracked the U.S. top 100 list in quite some time.
If you're looking for a name that starts with the letter I, here are some beautiful possibilities.
Isabella & Isabelle/Isabel. Have you noticed a few Isabellas on the playground lately? You're not imagining things. According to the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, Isabella rose from near obscurity before the 1990s to the #4 name in 2006. Isabelle also climbed to #85, followed closely by Isabel at #87. These names are actually variations of Elizabeth (which was originally spelled Elisabeth), which means "God's promise."
Isadora. With all the hype about Isabella, you'd think Isadora would have been snatched up as well. However, it seems that parents haven't discovered this seemingly obvious alternative-- so if you're looking for one, give Isadora a try. Isadora comes from a Greek phrase meaning "gift from Isis," who was the goddess of fertility.
Ingrid. If you're looking for a Scandinavian name, this lovely name may be a perfect choice. The name's most famous owner was probably actress Ingrid Bergman of Casablanca fame. Ingrid comes from an old name that means "Ing's beauty," as does the similar name Inga.
Irene. More popular during the Baby Boom, this classic name can be freshened up as Irena or Irina. Irene has a great meaning-- it comes from a Greek word that means "peace."
Iris. Iris is a flower, an essential part of the eye, and from a Greek word that means "rainbow."
Ilona. This unique name is a variation of Helen. It comes from a Greek name meaning "sun ray."
Inez. Used more commonly in Spanish and Portuguese, Inez comes from a Greek name meaning "holy."
Ione. This unusual moniker comes from a Greek word that means "purple," and is best known as the name of actress Ione Skye.
India & Indiana. If you like place names, these are some good ones that begin with I. Get out your globe, and you're bound to find a few others as well.
See also:
Baby girl names that begin with H
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