God is gracious
Ivan is the Slavic form of the Greek name Ioannes, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan. It has been the name of several Russian rulers and remains a staple across Eastern Europe. In the United States, it is viewed as a strong, cross-cultural classic that feels both traditional and modern.
About 2,240 boys were named Ivan in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
The first Tsar of All the Russias
Czech-American former world No. 1 tennis player
Nobel Prize-winning physiologist known for classical conditioning
Major Russian novelist and playwright
Director of Ghostbusters and Stripes
Soviet boxer and antagonist · Rocky IV
Central character in The Brothers Karamazov · The Brothers Karamazov
Protagonist of a famous Solzhenitsyn novella · One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
The same feel as Ivan — far less common.
Hidden gems that stand out.
