German Names that Start With I

  1. Ivo
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "yew wood, archer"
    • Description:

      Ivo is an unusual, catchy name with the energetic impact of all names ending in 'o'. Hardly heard in the U.S., it is used a bit more frequently in England, as is the related Ivor, a favorite of such novelists as Evelyn Waugh and P.G. Wodehouse. Ivo is currently most popular in the Netherlands.
  2. Ida
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "industrious one"
    • Description:

      Many vowel names stylish a century ago are coming back, and Ida seems like a possible, logical successor to Ada and Ava.
  3. Isa
    • Origin:

      Germanic, Persian, or diminutive of Isabel
    • Meaning:

      "ice; strong-willed; pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Isa is a name unto itself as both a Persian name meaning "strong-willed" and as Germanic one derived from the element is meaning "ice". It can also be a short form of Isabel, Isabella, Isadora, Louisa, and similar. Currently popular in Brazil and The Netherlands, it has seen some increased use in the US in recent years, perhaps owing to the popularity of other short names like Ava, Mia, and Isla.
  4. Irma
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "universal, whole, great"
    • Description:

      A Top 200 choice in the US from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, Irma has nevertheless fallen out of favor with modern parents, and doesn't look set for the sort of comeback that some of her vintage sisters have enjoyed in recent years. The devastating hurricane which hit the Caribbean Islands and the south-east coast of the US in 2017 has no doubt dealt its chances of revival a further blow.
  5. Ingram
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "angel-raven"
    • Description:

      An undiscovered surname possibility with upscale overtones, could be enlivened with nickname Ingo.
  6. Ivara
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "yew tree, archer"
    • Description:

      Similar to Ivana but less personality-driven.
  7. Ilsa
    • Origin:

      German variation of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Ilsa is remembered as the radiant but tragic heroine of "Casablanca," and it's having something of a European resurgence.
  8. Immanuel
    • Origin:

      German variation of Emmanuel
    • Description:

      In the US, Emmanuel has held steady around the Top 200 for a quarter century now, but this variation has dropped off the Top 1000 for three of the past seven years. It was Number 974 in 2016.
  9. Ingo
    • Origin:

      German and Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "protected by Yngvi"
    • Description:

      An unusual name heard in contemporary Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, it's the male version of the more familiar Inga. It's the name of a German god, and attached to German-born soap star Ingo Rademacher--the father of sons named Peanut and Pohaku Zen.
  10. Isidor
    • Origin:

      German and Russian variation of Isidore
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Isis"
    • Description:

      Isidore and variants are remarkably underused and ripe for revival, a la Theodore and company.
  11. Ilise
    • Origin:

      German variation of Elise
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      While Ilise is unusual, the E version is more attractive.
  12. Isobelle
    • Isobella
      • Ignacius
        • Ignatz
          • Origin:

            German variation of Ignatius
          • Description:

            Natz recommended.
        • Ignate