Ivan
Meaning of Ivan
Ivan is the Slavic cousin of classic John, branching out from the Hebrew phrase “Yohanan,” or “God is gracious.” In Russia it rolls off the tongue as EE-vahn, while most English speakers give it the bright, two-step twist EYE-vuhn—either way, the name keeps its strong, vowel-forward punch. History has handed Ivan a colorful résumé: medieval czars, literary heavyweights like Turgenev, Grand Slam legend Ivan Lendl, even the occasional hurricane that makes the evening news. Yet despite that larger-than-life pedigree, Ivan feels refreshingly down-to-earth in an American playground. The numbers back it up—sitting comfortably inside the U.S. Top 300 for well over a century and hovering around the 150 mark today, Ivan is neither overexposed nor obscure. It’s a sturdy, two-syllable passport that travels easily from Little League to LinkedIn, carrying just enough Old-World intrigue to make people lean in. If you’re after a name that blends strength, history, and an easy smile, Ivan might be the gracious gift you’ve been looking for.
Pronunciation
Russian
- Pronunced as EE-vahn (/i:van//)
British English
- Pronunced as EE-vuhn (/ˈi:vən/)
American English
- Pronunced as EYE-vuhn (/ˈaɪvən/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ivan
| Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, baptized Hovhannes Aivazian and born to an Armenian family in Feodosia, Crimea, was a Russian Romantic painter acclaimed as one of the greatest masters of marine art. |
| Ivan IV, called Ivan the Terrible, ruled Russia from 1533 to 1584, becoming its first tsar and transforming the country from a medieval state into a fledgling empire at great human and economic cost. |
| Ivan Rakitić - Ivan Rakitic is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. |
| Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who discovered classical conditioning through experiments with dogs and won the 1904 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on digestion. |
| Ivan Turgenev was a Russian writer who helped popularize Russian literature in the West. |
| Ivan Konev was a Soviet marshal who led key Red Army offensives on the Eastern Front in World War II, helping drive Axis forces from much of Eastern Europe. |
| Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin, also known as Ivan Mosjoukine, was a Russian silent film star. |
| Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov was a Soviet general and posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union who led the 316th Rifle Division in the defense of Moscow during World War II. |
| Ivan Terence Sanderson was a British biologist and writer from Edinburgh who became a US citizen and wrote about nature and travel while showcasing exotic animals on 1950s and 1960s TV. |
| Ivan I of Moscow - Ivan I Danilovich Kalita ruled as Prince of Moscow from 1325 and as Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1331 until his death in 1340. |
| Ivan Vasilievich Kliun, also known as Klyun, was a Russian avant garde painter, sculptor, and art theorist associated with Suprematism. |
| Ivan Mikhaylovich Sechenov was a Russian pioneer in psychology, physiology and medical science. |
| Ivan Tomečak - Ivan Tomecak is a Croatian professional footballer who mainly plays right full back but can also play right wing or left back. |
| Ivan Miljković is a Serbian businessman and former volleyball great, an Olympic and European champion renowned for powerful opposite hitting with the Serbia national team from 1998 to 2012. |
