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

Popularity of Ivy by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ivy is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Ivy being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5,036 female babies and 23 male babies born with the name Ivy.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 23 baby boys were named Ivy in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ivy

The name Ivy is derived from the English word "ivy," which refers to the evergreen climbing plant with green leaves. It has its roots in the Old English word "ifig" and the Old Norse word "ifiedunr," both of which mean "ivy." The name first appeared as a given name in the late 19th century.

The ivy plant has been a symbol of fidelity, fertility, and eternal life in various cultures throughout history. In ancient Greek mythology, ivy was associated with the god Dionysus, the god of wine, and was used to adorn the heads of his followers during festivals. The ivy was also a symbol of eternal life because of its evergreen nature.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ivy is Ivy Millicient Williams, an American actress born in 1915. She appeared in several films in the 1930s and 1940s, including "Killer at Large" and "The House of Fear."

Another notable person named Ivy is Ivy Compton-Burnett, a British novelist born in 1884 and died in 1969. She is known for her novels that explore the dynamics of upper-class English families, such as "Pastors and Masters" and "A House and Its Head."

Ivy Ledbetter Lee, born in 1877 and died in 1934, was an American publicist and one of the founders of modern public relations. He is credited with developing the concept of the press release and shaping the practice of public relations.

Ivy Robic, born in 1921 and died in 2017, was an American singer and actress. She was known for her recordings of popular songs in the 1940s and 1950s, including "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena" and "Too Close for Comfort."

Ivy Baker Priest, born in 1905 and died in 1975, was an American politician and the 33rd Treasurer of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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 Ivy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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