Ion: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,250

among boys · ↑2,346 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Ion

How common

1 in 122,005

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2023

15 babies

All-time total

314

#10,322 all-time among boys

First recorded

1928

in Social Security records

Ion popularity over time

314 babies have been named Ion since 1928, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	5	1	–	#4,425
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	17	2	–	#3,741
1970s	31	3	+82%	#4,096
1980s	20	2	-35%	#4,767
1990s	40	4	+100%	#7,103
2000s	50	5	+25%	#8,132
2010s	87	9	+74%	#6,558
2020s (to 2025)	64	11	+23%	#6,042

The story of Ion

Ion is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,250 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1928, 314 American babies have been named Ion. Its peak came in 2023, when 15 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2020s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ion stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ion?

The median living Ion is about 16 years old; half are between 6 and 31. An estimated 300 people named Ion are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ion year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	14	#6,250
2024	9	#8,596
2023	15	#6,042
2022	5	#13,089
2021	9	#8,432
2020	12	#6,775
2019	13	#6,558
2018	12	#6,864
2017	6	#11,296
2016	8	#9,182
2015	11	#7,251
2014	11	#7,234
2013	9	#8,365
2012	6	#11,331
2011	5	#13,044
2010	6	#11,266
2009	5	#13,204
2008	8	#9,319
2007	9	#8,461
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	8	#8,132
2002	7	#8,811
2001	6	#9,731
2000	7	#8,543
1995	5	#9,402
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	6	#5,824
1975	8	#4,096
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Ion

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Ion Antonescu Dictator of Romania from 1940 to 1944 1882–1946 · 19th century
2 Ion Iliescu President of Romania (1990–1996; 2000–2004) b. 1930 · Contemporary
3 Ion Țiriac Romanian tennis player (born 1939) Contemporary
4 Ion Mihai Pacepa Romanian general (1928–2021) Contemporary
5 Ion G. Duca Romanian liberal politician, diplomat and lawyer (1879–1933) 19th century
6 Ion Luca Caragiale Romanian writer, political commentator and journalist (1852–1912) 19th century
7 Ion Gheorghe Maurer Romanian communist politician and lawyer (1902–2000) Contemporary
8 Ion Creangă Moldavian - born writer, raconteur and school teacher (1837–1889) 19th century
9 Ion I. C. Brătianu Romanian politician (1864–1927) 19th century
10 Ion Chicu Prime Minister of Moldova from 2019 to 2020 b. 1972 · Contemporary
11 Ion Gigurtu Romanian politician (1886–1959) 19th century
12 Ion Dragoumis Greek diplomat and philosopher (1878–1920) 19th century
13 Ion Ansotegi Spanish footballer (born 1982) Contemporary
14 Ion Barbu Romanian mathematician and poet (1895 - 1961) 19th century
15 Ion Andoni Goikoetxea Spanish footballer (born 1965) Contemporary
16 Ion Heliade Rădulescu Romanian writer and politician (1802–1872) 19th century
17 Ion C. Brătianu Romanian politician (1821–1891) 19th century
18 Ion Izagirre Spanish cyclist b. 1989 · Contemporary
19 Ion Ghica Romanian statesman, mathematician, diplomat and politician (1816–1897) 19th century
20 Ion of Chios 5th-century BC Greek poet, dramatist and philosopher -490–-422 · Antiquity

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ion, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ion?

The median living Ion is about 16 years old. Half of all living Ions are between 6 and 31 years old.

How many people named Ion are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Ion are alive in the United States, based on 314 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ion mean?

Ion is a masculine given name.

How popular is the name Ion in 2025?

Ion ranked #6,250 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Ion?

314 babies have been named Ion in the United States since 1928, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ion most popular?

Ion peaked in 2023, when 15 newborns received the name.

Is Ion a boy or girl name?

Ion is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ion rising or falling?

Ion is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Ion?

Well-known people named Ion include Ion Antonescu (politician), Ion Iliescu (politician), Ion Țiriac (tennis player).

Names like Ion

Names that sound and feel close to Ion: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ion with similar names → More names starting with I →