Ignatius

Ignatius - A very unique male name

Ignatius appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #538. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ignatius and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ignatius? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ignatius. The baby boy name Ignatius was given to 42 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1837 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 34,912 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ignatius peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 455.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ignatius, 1-5?

Ignatius is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ignatius is currently topping the baby name charts in Kansas at position #367 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,692.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ignatius is where you live.

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Ignatius origin and meaning

Latin

Latin Ignatius, traditionally (but not certainly) linked to ignis, 'fire'; the name of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius is the Latin name of the founder of the Jesuits and of an early Church father, Ignatius of Antioch. Textbooks repeat the derivation from Latin ignis, fire, but scholars note the name is more likely Etruscan in deeper origin, with the fire link a later association. In the US it peaked in 1924 and is now rising again with other grand Catholic classics.

Origin uncertain

Ignatius is a 8 letter name with 4 syllables.

To see famous people named Ignatius, pop culture references for the name Ignatius and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ignatius

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ignatius, sorted by popularity.

Ignatz / Iskander / Isandro /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ignatius

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ignatius a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ignatius?

4 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

ig-NAY-shus · /ɪɡˈneɪʃəs/

Around the world

• Ignacio (Spanish) — The Spanish form, far more common in the US
• Ignazio (Italian) — The Italian form
• Iñaki (Basque) — The Basque form, a name in its own right

Spellings and nicknames

• Ignacio — The Spanish form, a separate established name
• Ignatz — A German/Yiddish short form

Nicknames: IggyNate

Famous bearers

• Ignatius of Loyola — Founder of the Jesuit order and author of the Spiritual Exercises (1491–1556) Historical

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Ignatius for a grand, scholarly Catholic classic with the ready-made nickname Iggy. Long dormant, it is rising again from its 1924 peak era.

Worth knowing

• The 'from Latin fire' derivation repeated everywhere is not secure — it is likely a folk association
• A four-syllable formal name; the child will live in the nickname