Iory
A feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "violet-colored beauty".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Iory. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Iory today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Iory births was 2010 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Iory. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Iory. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2010
5 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2010 SSA rank
#12,990
Tracked since 2010
Popularity
Iory: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Iory by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Iory during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Iory
The name Iory has its origins in the ancient Celtic languages spoken in parts of what is now the British Isles and northern France. It is believed to be derived from the proto-Celtic word *Isarno, which meant "iron" or "strong as iron". This root word eventually evolved into various forms across different Celtic dialects, including the Old Breton name Isarn and the Old Welsh name Idris.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Iory can be found in the Annales Cambriae, a medieval chronicle detailing the history of the Britons from the 5th to the 10th century. In this text, an individual named Iory ap Cadfan is mentioned as a prince of Gwynedd, a Welsh kingdom, in the late 7th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Iory gained popularity among the nobility and ruling classes of Wales and Cornwall. One notable bearer was Iory the Bard, a 12th-century Welsh poet and chronicler who is believed to have composed several works documenting the history and legends of his time.
In the 14th century, an English knight named Sir Iory de Mowbray was recorded as a participant in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He fought alongside King Edward III at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and is said to have played a crucial role in the English victory.
Another prominent figure was Iory MacLean, a Scottish chieftain and warrior who lived in the late 15th century. He led his clan in several battles against rival clans and is remembered for his bravery and leadership during the tumultuous times of the Scottish clan wars.
In the 16th century, an Italian painter and architect named Iory Vasari gained recognition for his contributions to the Renaissance art and architecture of Florence. His works included frescoes and architectural designs for various churches and palaces in the city.
While the name Iory has become relatively uncommon in modern times, its rich history and connections to various cultures and historical figures make it a unique and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with depth and heritage.
People
Iory + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Iory as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Iory: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Iory?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Iory going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Iory a common name?
We classify Iory as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Iory most popular?
The single biggest year for Iory was 2010, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Iory is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Iory in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Iory a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Iory in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Iory still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Iory in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Iory can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Iory?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Iory, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.