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Names Starting With I
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Ignatius

Ignatius is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “fiery one.” Ignatius comes from the Latin 'ignis' meaning fire.

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how do you pronounce Ignatius?

ig-NAY-shus

where does the name Ignatius come from?

A variant of the Roman family name Egnatius, later spelled to resemble the Latin ignis, fire, which created the fiery one association. The origin of Egnatius is uncertain; it may be a borrowing, possibly from Etruscan, or related to a Greek word for native-born.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit order, one of the most influential religious organizations in history. The name was brought to comic literary life by the unforgettable Ignatius J. Reilly in A Confederacy of Dunces. It burns with intellectual and spiritual intensity.

how popular is this name?

Ignatius has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 45 years since 1885, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #547 in 1906, and ranked #755 in 1930.

1885higher on the chart = more popular · rank #1 to #1,0001930
See the milestone years
Ignatius US popularity rank by year, selected milestones
YearRank
1930#755
1929#952
1928#796
1927#911
1926#793
1925#858
1924#686
1923#821
1922#674
1921#682
1920#640
1910#654
1906#547
1900#785
1890#667
1885#936

Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Ignatius fell outside the top 1,000.

who are famous people named Ignatius?

  • Saint Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Society of Jesus / Jesuits)
  • Ignatius J. Reilly (protagonist of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole)

what are the nicknames and variants of Ignatius?

Nicknames

Iggy

what names are similar to Ignatius?

what names go well with Ignatius?

Sibling names that share Ignatius's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.

Style:virtue

quick answers about Ignatius

What does the name Ignatius mean?

Ignatius means “fiery one”.

What is the origin of the name Ignatius?

Ignatius comes from the Latin naming tradition.

How popular is the name Ignatius?

Ignatius ranked #755 in the US in 1930, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1906, at #547, and it has spent 45 years in the top 1,000 since 1885.

Is Ignatius a boy or girl name?

Ignatius is primarily a boys' name.

How do you pronounce Ignatius?

Ignatius is pronounced ig-NAY-shus, with 3 syllables.

Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial

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