Fun Facts About the Name Ia
- 160 babies named Ia: U.S. records list 160 babies given the name Ia from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ia Mean?
Ia is a feminine name used chiefly in Georgia. It is generally regarded as the Georgian form of the Greek name Io (Ἰώ), the name of a mythological priestess of Hera. The etymology of Io is not securely known. Greek writers and later name dictionaries often connect it with ion (ἴον), the word for 'violet,' and this is the customary meaning assigned to Ia. The connection is traditional rather than certain. A separate Cornish saint's name Ia is of uncertain origin and is not demonstrably related to the Greek name.
Ia Name History & Origins
The Greek Io appears in early Greek myth and literature. In the Prometheus Bound attributed to Aeschylus, she is a priestess transformed into a cow and driven from Greece to Egypt. The name Ia is the form that became traditional in Georgia, where it is used as a feminine given name. Christian tradition there venerates a Persian martyr named Ia, and the name has been common in Georgian culture.
In Cornwall, Ia is remembered as a virgin martyr of the 5th or 6th century. According to tradition, she came from Ireland and settled near the coast where the town of St Ives now stands. The town's name derives from St Ia with a possessive ending. This Cornish Ia is a distinct name; its language of origin has not been established with confidence, and it should not be assumed to share the Greek etymology.
How Popular is the Name Ia?
Ia has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1989. Its best rank was #6,385 in 1983.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #14,079 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #16,077 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #16,026 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #18,349 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #18,671 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #16,404 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #10,465 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #14,323 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #10,938 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #8,361 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #8,992 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #9,005 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #8,190 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #9,577 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #6,684 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #8,685 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #9,135 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #7,340 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #9,738 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #6,385 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #9,626 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #10,953 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ia Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Ia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.