The name Ignatius originated from the Roman family name Egnatius, which itself was derived from the word ignis, meaning "fire" in Latin. It became a commonly used name among early Christians in the 1st century AD, as it was adopted by St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church, who was born around 35 AD and martyred in Rome sometime between 98 and 117 AD.

The name Ignatius gained significant prominence in Christianity due to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Spanish priest and theologian who founded the religious order of the Jesuits in 1534. He was born in 1491 and died in 1556. His legacy as a prominent figure in the Counter-Reformation movement helped popularize the name across Europe.

Another notable figure named Ignatius was Ignatius of Constantinople, who served as the Patriarch of Constantinople from 847 to 858 AD. He played a crucial role in the ongoing debates surrounding iconoclasm, a movement that rejected the veneration of religious images, and was a staunch defender of the use of icons in Christian worship.

In the 17th century, Ignatius Sancho, an African man born into slavery, became a prominent figure in London's literary circles. He was born around 1729 and died in 1780. Sancho's letters, published after his death, provided a unique perspective on the experiences of Black people in 18th-century Britain.

Ignatius Donnelly, an American author, and politician, is remembered for his influential work on the pseudoscientific theory of Atlantis. He was born in 1831 and died in 1901. Donnelly's book "Atlantis: The Antediluvian World" (1882) contributed to the widespread popularity of the idea of a lost civilization in the Atlantic Ocean.

While the name Ignatius has its roots in ancient Rome and early Christianity, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, with notable figures bearing this name throughout history, contributing to its enduring legacy.