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I love it as it's my boyfriends name but he hates it and hes like in his 30s.

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I know a few kids called Ian but it doesnt seem right on a child.

I like it very much indeed, but that's the quintessential Brit talking! I see it as energetic and positive - big redhead in kilt striding through heather, that kind of thing. Salmon-fishing. Golf. That said, most of the Ians and Iains I've known haven't been like that at all, but they've all been good.

I really like it, but it's a bit too common for me to use.

I've never been a huge fan of it! It sort of has a dorky/nerdy vibe about it, which isn't a bad thing, but I would put in the same category as Nigel, Dexter and Mordecai.

I don't mind it, but wouldn't use it myself. It kind of just sounds like a mash of E and N to me, just sounds with no real substance. My parents were considering this name for my brother (they went with David instead,) and there was a little Ian in my class at the day care I work at. Otherwise I haven't met any others.

I know so many guys named Ian. I believe the current number is eight. Most of them are 20-25 years old. It's not my favorite but there's nothing wrong with it. It's just sort of bland.

This message was edited 8/11/2013, 1:28 PM

I love Ian. It is soft but strong. I also like the brevity. The only Ian I have known would be about 35 or 36 now. He was from the U.S.

I don't really like it as it sounds so dated. I know a few people called Ian and they're all about 50 years old. I can't really say whether it feels British because I am British... all the Ian's I have met were British, but so are 99 percent of the people I know!

It's my uncle's name. It's quite dated here (UK), I couldn't imagine a young Ian.

Can't stand it. In whininess and nasality it is equaled only by Ryan. Even Liam isn't as whiny as those two.

I'm with you, what a bad name.

For me, Ian is a dad, or even a granddad name. I don't think I know one Ian who is under forty.
I think Ian sounds business like not obnoxious and whiny, pretentious maybe, I couldn't see Ian in a builder's overalls.

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I don't hate the name. I think it's alright but I wouldn't name my kid Ian. Growing up I knew several people named Ian and most of them were pretty stuck-up, so I may be biased.

I knew a kid named Ian growing up. He was kind of weird- he wore costumes to class every day and was kind of a suck-up. Very bright kid, though.

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As for the name itself...I like it. I've met several Ians, so I don't think of it as an exclusively British name. It's short and simple and I like short and simple names. I'd give it a B+.