Ia

An uncommon Welsh pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameWelshRising fast
#14079 1998in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A taxonomic genus within the family Vespertilionidae – now having only two species of bats.

Ia is a girl's baby name of Welsh and Georgian origin. In Welsh tradition, Ia (or Eia) was a female saint who gave her name to St. Ives in Cornwall. In Georgian, Ia (ია) means 'violet' — the fragrant purple flower — and is one of the most beloved Georgian feminine names.

Ia is remarkably brief — just two letters — but carries centuries of Welsh and Georgian heritage. The Georgian meaning of violet gives it natural beauty and poetic simplicity, while the Welsh saint gives it Celtic spiritual resonance.

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Popularity Over Time

Ia has 22+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1980.

036912198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Ia
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s16
2000s15
1990s66
1980s63

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(22 years, 19802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Ia
YearBirthsRank
20246#14079
20235#16077
20205#16026
20095#18349
20075#18671
20025#16404
19988#10465
19965#14323
19957#10938
199410#8361
19939#8992
19929#9005
199110#8190
19908#9577
198912#6684
19888#8685
19877#9135
19869#7340
19856#9738
198310#6385

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19802024) · Methodology