Icy
A girl's name of Old English origin with 1,095 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name.
Icy is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, likely a diminutive of names like Isis or a nature name evoking the crystalline quality of ice — from the Old English is meaning 'ice,' suggesting coolness, clarity, and a certain bright, sparkling quality. It may also have been used as a short form of Ida or Isadora.
Icy was most common in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where nature and weather names were occasionally used as given names. It carries an unexpected delicacy — a name that sounds both crisp and affectionate, cool to the ear but warm in usage.
EtymologyShow more
Icy first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Old English classification suggests a path from old english linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Icy has 80+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 8 | #11504 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 5 | #17572 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 18 | #10304 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 41 | #5162 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 61 | #4288 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 114 | #2781 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 212 | #2003 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 195 | #1532 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 178 | #906 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 175 | #776 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 88 | #796 | — |
The Story of Icy
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1899, Icy is a name steeped in history. Girls named Icy are most likely born between 1889 and 1909.
How rare is Icy?
With 1,095 total births on record, Icy remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 212 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Icy by the numbers
- Would fill 23 school buses
- Meeting one Icy per day would take 3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(80 years, 1880–2021)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | #11504 |
| 2013 | 5 | #17572 |
| 1988 | 6 | #10845 |
| 1987 | 6 | #10326 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9741 |
| 1959 | 6 | #5833 |
| 1958 | 6 | #5676 |
| 1956 | 8 | #4604 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4182 |
| 1954 | 6 | #5383 |
| 1953 | 6 | #5292 |
| 1949 | 6 | #4911 |
| 1948 | 6 | #4887 |
| 1946 | 9 | #3511 |
| 1945 | 5 | #4840 |
| 1944 | 5 | #4840 |
| 1943 | 5 | #4952 |
| 1942 | 5 | #4914 |
| 1941 | 9 | #3108 |
| 1940 | 11 | #2632 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Icy a boy's or girl's name?
When was Icy most popular?
How popular is the name Icy?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2021