Girl Dog Names That Start With I

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

This cutesy nickname is best known as that of Imogene Threadgoode in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.

Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.

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

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.

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.

The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.

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

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

Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.

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.

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.

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.

Irya is an Irina diminutive, and rare even in its native country.

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

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

Ikea is a down-market version of the Chanel/Tiffany/Porsche brand-name-as-first idea.

Parents seeking a way to differentiate their Isabella from all the others could consider this zippier spelling. It does have the jazzy nickname Izzy.

One fewer L makes this name much less popular than the more traditional spelling.