Find out how popular the first name Ion has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ion by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ion is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 15 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ion.

The history of the first name Ion

The name Ion has its origins in ancient Greek language and culture, dating back to the classical period of ancient Greece. It is derived from the Greek word "ion," which means "violet flower" or "purple."

In Greek mythology, Ion was the name of a legendary character who was the son of Apollo and Creusa, the daughter of the king of Athens. The story of Ion is told in Euripides' play of the same name, which was written around 414 BCE.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ion can be found in the works of ancient Greek historians and philosophers, such as Herodotus and Plato, who lived in the 5th century BCE. In Plato's dialogue "Ion," the character Ion is a rhapsode, or a professional reciter of poetry.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Ion. One of the most famous was Ion of Chios, a Greek poet and tragedian who lived in the 5th century BCE. He was known for his tragedies, although only fragments of his work have survived.

Another notable Ion was Ion of Ephesus, a Greek sculptor who lived in the 5th century BCE. He was known for his sculptures of Athena and was considered one of the greatest sculptors of his time.

In the 4th century BCE, Ion of Samos was a Greek philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of geometry and optics.

During the Byzantine era, Ion Damascenus was a Greek rhetor and philosopher who lived in the 7th century CE. He was known for his works on philosophy and rhetoric, and his writings were influential in the development of Byzantine literature.

In the 19th century, Ion Ghica was a Romanian prince and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Romania from 1866 to 1867. He was known for his efforts to modernize and westernize Romania.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ion was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ion, please contact us.

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