Ignatius
Ignatius: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪɡˈneɪ.ʃəs/
Meaning and origin of Ignatius
Root meaning: “fire”
- A male given name from Latin; of mostly Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox usage in English.
- A male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Saint Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 108/140 CE)
- A male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)
Etymology
From Latin Ignātius, variant of gens name Egnātius, altered to resemble ignis (“fire”), establishing a folk etymology meaning akin to “Fiery One”. Of uncertain origin, perhaps originally borrowed from Etruscan. It might be related to Ancient Greek ἴγνης (ígnēs, “indigene”), ἴγνητος (ígnētos), from *ἔν-γνη-τες (*én-gnē-tes), formed from έν (én) + Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to give birth, produce”), also seen in γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “to come into being”).
How popular is Ignatius?
Since 1880, 4,075 boys in the U.S. have been named Ignatius. Its highest rank for boys was #555 in 1906. In 2025, 100 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Ignatius
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin boy names
Sibling name ideas for Ignatius
Sister and brother names that share Ignatius's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ignatius FAQ
What does the name Ignatius mean?
Ignatius traces back to a root meaning "fire". A male given name from Latin; of mostly Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox usage in English. A male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Saint Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 108/140 CE) A male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) From Latin Ignātius, variant of gens name Egnātius, altered to resemble ignis (“fire”), establishing a folk etymology meaning akin to “Fiery One”. Of uncertain origin, perhaps originally borrowed from Etruscan. It might be related to Ancient Greek ἴγνης (ígnēs, “indigene”), ἴγνητος (ígnētos), from *ἔν-γνη-τες (*én-gnē-tes), formed from έν (én) + Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to give birth, produce”), also seen in γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “to come into being”).
What is the origin of the name Ignatius?
Ignatius is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Ignatius?
Since 1880, 4,075 boys in the U.S. have been named Ignatius. Its highest rank for boys was #555 in 1906. In 2025, 100 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Ignatius a boy or girl name?
Ignatius is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 4,075 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.