4 Letter Girl Names Starting with I
Updated Fri Sep 01 2023
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Model Coco Rocha has set a narrow rubric for her children’s names — four-letter names starting with I. She is mother to Ioni and Iver and expecting her third child, a daughter, later in 2020. With such strict limitations, are there any good girl name options left?
You bet there are! It helps that I is such a versatile first initial. It can imitate the Y sound, as in Iana and Iara; long E, as in Inoa and Izar; or sound like "eye," as in Iola and Ioni. The variety of sounds makes an I-starting sibset well-matched, but not overly so. The only four-letter girl names beginning with I in the US Top 1000 are trendy choices Isla and Iris — but you won’t find those on this list. Here we’ve curated our favorite unique four-letter girl names starting with I. Perfect for Coco Rocha’s baby — or maybe yours.
- Ines
Origin:
Italian, Portuguese, Slovene and Croatian variation of AgnesMeaning:
"pure, virginal"Description:
This form of Agnes, Ines has always been popular since the true story of the thwarted lovers Queen Ines of Castro and King Peter of Portugal. This has to be one of the most heartbreaking and bloody true romances in history!
- Ione
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"violet flower"Description:
This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan.
- Inez
Origin:
Spanish variation of AgnesMeaning:
"pure, virginal"Description:
Also spelled Ines, this name of the prudish mother of Don Juan in the Byron poem has a touch of mystery, but has also been fully integrated into the American name pool.
- Iona
Origin:
Scottish place-nameDescription:
This name of a small island off the coast of Scotland is trending upwards along with other I names.
- Irie
Origin:
JamaicanMeaning:
"positive and powerful"Description:
A name used in the Caribbean, taken from the Rastafarian term that translates best to "positive and powerful." Rastas often greet each other by saying, "Are you feeling Irie today?"
- Indy
Origin:
Short form of IndianaDescription:
Indie — as in indie films — is the more girlish version of the name, but earthy, gender-neutral Indy is catching up slowly and steadily. Indy entered the Top 1000 for girls for the first time in 2023 after rising over 100 places. For a longer full name, vibrant Indigo remains more and more stylish each year.
- Indi
Origin:
Variation of Indie, EnglishMeaning:
"independent"Description:
A true maverick of a girls' name — even more so with this spelling, the least common between Indie, Indy, and Indi.
- Iqra
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"read"Description:
Beautiful Arabic name that's important in Islamic culture — Iqra is the name of a chapter in the Quran.
- Izzy
Origin:
Diminutive of Isabel and IsabellaDescription:
The longer Isabella stays in the Top 10—and it's been there for more than a decade—the more we hear the nickname Izzy (especially if we watch Grey's Anatomy). it's just a matter of time before it stands on its own, as it has as a first name for the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher.
- Issa
Origin:
Variation of Isa, GermanMeaning:
"strong-willed"Description:
Issa might make more sense if you're using it as a nickname for any one of the various names ending in -issa, but this spelling is also an Arabic and Hebrew boy name. The Isa spelling is almost exclusively feminine.
- Ilsa
Origin:
German variation of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Ilsa is remembered as the radiant but tragic heroine of "Casablanca," and it's having something of a European resurgence.
- Iman
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"faith"Description:
One of the best-known African names in the Western World because of the Somali-born model and wife of the late David Bowie.
- Ilse
Origin:
Dutch variation of IlsaMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Pronounced with two syllables, as if spelled Ilsa, Ilse is popular in The Netherlands and may rise here with cousin Elsa.
- Iola
Origin:
Greek or WelshMeaning:
"violet; beautiful lady"Description:
Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that should be ripe for rediscovery.
- Iara
Origin:
Variation of Yara, Arabic, TupiMeaning:
"small butterfly; lady of the water"Description:
Iara rhymes with Yara, an Arabic name of which it can be a variation. More commonly it's associated with Iara of Brazilian myth — a water nymph, sometimes mermaid, of Tupi and Guaraní legend. In the legends, Iara seduces men to the river to accompany her in her immortal life.
- Ilia
Origin:
Variation of Iliana or Julia, Greek, Basque, Bulgarian "from Illium or Troy; youthful or sky father; Yahweh is God"Meaning:
"from Illium or Troy; youthful or sky father; Yahweh is God"Description:
Three syllables in only four letters is quite a feat, but that's exactly what you get with Ilia, a versatile, unisex option with various origins. It could derive from the Greek Iliana, which could denote someone from Illium, or it could be a feminine form of Ilian, a form of Elijah. Alternatively, it is a Basque form of Julia, or a Bulgarian feminine form of Ilya, with again links back to Elijah. Currently a gender neutral option in the US, it may be exclusively masculine elsewhere.
- Immy
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"maiden"Description:
Diminutive of Imogen, rarely given as a standalone even in the UK, where Imogen is a Top 50 pick.
- Ilma
Origin:
Finnish, Hungarian, Spanish, or literary QuenyaMeaning:
"air; starlight"Description:
A name that's unknown in the US and Britain but is popular as a nature name in Finland. May also be known as a Hungarian variation of Amelia and a Spanish form of Wilhelmina.
- Isha
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"master, lord"Description:
A short and sweet Hindi name which has been relatively popular in the UK – peaking at #280 there in 2003.
- Idra
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"fig tree"Description:
Idra is one of the less obvious botanical names. In ancient times, a fig tree was a symbol of learning, peace, and prosperity.