Girl Dog Names That Start With I

  1. Icy
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "icy"
    • Description:

      A short form of the modern coinage Icelyn that feels cool as a short form, but too frosty for a full name.
  2. Iria
    • Origin:

      Portuguese variation of Eirene
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.
  3. Idgie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Imogen or Imogene, Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      This cutesy nickname is best known as that of Imogene Threadgoode in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.
  4. Ivanna
    • Origin:

      Feminine of Ivan, which is itself a variation of John
    • Description:

      Ivanna / Ivana both come out of the name "John" by way of the Russian variant Ivan. Whereas Joanna feels dated, Ivanna feels cosmopolitan and fresh. Ivanka (of Trump fame) is a diminutive version of Ivanna.
  5. Ife
    • Origin:

      African, Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "love"
    • Description:

      Simple African name all-but-unknown in the U.S. and Europe, which is exactly why it might make a perfect choice. Similarity to such popular names as Ava and Eva (and the Irish Aoife) makes it more familiar, but potentially more confusing.
  6. Ivalo
    • Origin:

      Greenlandic
    • Meaning:

      "sinew"
    • Description:

      This is a Greenlandic girls' name made famous when Princess Mary and Prince Frederik named their twin daughter Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda.
  7. Irati
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "fern field"
    • Description:

      For the parent who genuinely wants something different, this nature choice is popular in Spain. Downside: connection to words irate and irritation.
  8. Isidora
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian variation of Isadora, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Isis"
    • Description:

      The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.
  9. Icelyn
    • Origin:

      Variation of Icelynn, invented English name
    • Description:

      Icelyn and its more popular sister Icelynn have been among the fastest-rising girls' names in the US in recent years.
  10. Innogen
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "daughter, maiden"
    • Description:

      Innogen is the Shakespearean name that never was. Most sources will tell you that Shakespeare intended to use Innogen for a character in Cymbeline, but his printer mistook the twos Ns for an M, thus inventing Imogen. This may or may not be true — Imogen seems to have existed before his time, and Shakespeare may have changed the spelling on purpose — but nevertheless, it makes for a great name story.
  11. Ivette
    • Origin:

      French variation of Yvette
    • Description:

      Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.
  12. Imari
    • Origin:

      American invented name, Japanese place name
    • Description:

      A novel creation in the vein of Amari and Akari. Imari is also a place name, connected to the Japanese city, and is the English term for Arita porcelain.
  13. Ingeborg
    • Origin:

      German and Swedish
    • Meaning:

      "the help of Ing"
    • Description:

      Ingeborg (and all Germanic and Scandinavian names beginning with Ing-) references the ancient fertility god Ing. Ing, later known as Freyr, is one of the primary gods in Old Norse mythology.
  14. Irya
    • Origin:

      Variation of Irina, Russian
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      Irya is an Irina diminutive, and rare even in its native country.
  15. Idona
    • Origin:

      Variation of Idony, Norse
    • Meaning:

      "love again, renewal"
    • Description:

      Idony is the Norse goddess of springtime and eternal youth, and this variation is both rare and straightforward, a winning combination.
  16. Ignacia
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "ardent, burning"
    • Description:

      This Spanish form of the yet-to-be-revived Ignatius was borne by an early and influential Philipina nun known as Mother Ignacia.
  17. Ikea
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Ikea is a down-market version of the Chanel/Tiffany/Porsche brand-name-as-first idea.
  18. Izabella
    • Origin:

      Variation of Isabella, Hungarian, Polish, and English
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      While this might look like a modern spelling of the classic Isabella, it is also the Hungarian and Polish form, pronounced with an EE sound at the beginning. A Top 50 name in Hungary and a Top 200 name in Poland, this form is also popular in Latvia.
  19. Ide
    • Iggy
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "fiery"
      • Description:

        Diminutive of Ignatius or its female form Ignatia – or, if you're thinking outside the box, of Ingrid or even Indigo. British actor, presenter and comedian Noel Fielding named his second daughter Iggy in 2020.