Inigo

Meaning of Inigo

The name Inigo, of Basque origin and firmly rooted in medieval Spanish onomastics, derives from the early Latinized Ennecus and achieved enduring prominence through its association with Iñigo López de Loyola (1491–1556), later known as St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. In its phonetic realization it exists in two principal forms—Spanish /iˈni.go/, characterized by a penultimate stress and a pure vowel onset, and English /ˈɪn.ɪ.goʊ/, which places primary stress on the initial syllable and concludes with a diphthong—yet retains a consistent tri-syllabic structure across both traditions. Although Inigo remains relatively uncommon in contemporary Anglo-American usage, Social Security Administration data record a modest but persistent presence—five to sixteen births annually since the early 2000s, culminating in a 2024 rank of 916—thereby reflecting its niche appeal among parents seeking a name that conveys historical depth. In addition to its ecclesiastical resonance, Inigo has permeated popular culture—most notably through William Goldman’s storied character Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride—thus securing a transatlantic cultural imprint that balances scholarly gravitas with modern narrative familiarity.