Ignatius
Boy name · #1663 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ignatius? In official American birth records, Ignatius has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 100 baby boys were named Ignatius, placing it at #1663 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2234, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,000 boys born in 2025 was named Ignatius.
Babies named Ignatius per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 140-year story
Ignatius first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 100 babies and a rank of #1663. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ignatius against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ignatius in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ignatius is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ignatius will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ignatius is most common
State-level data for Ignatius is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ignatius
Statistically, parents drawn to Ignatius tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kassius, Aurelius, Lucius, Caius, and Amadeus.
KassiusAureliusLuciusCaiusAmadeusKaiusSiriusArius
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ignatius | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 100 | #1663 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2023 | 89 | #1803 |
| 2022 | 85 | #1861 |
| 2021 | 84 | #1841 |
| 2020 | 80 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 79 | #1886 |
| 2018 | 78 | #1901 |
| 2017 | 70 | #2014 |
| 2016 | 62 | #2184 |
| 2015 | 60 | #2234 |
| 2014 | 41 | #2847 |
| 2013 | 48 | #2528 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3002 |
| 2011 | 52 | #2403 |
| 2010 | 35 | #3181 |
| 2009 | 34 | #3274 |
| 2008 | 33 | #3344 |
| 2007 | 28 | #3687 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4105 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5034 |
| 2004 | 15 | #5246 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5558 |
| 2002 | 23 | #3670 |
| 2001 | 7 | #8339 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ignatius?
In official American birth records, the name Ignatius first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ignatius a popular boy name?
Ignatius ranked #1663 among boys in 2025 with 100 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2234.
When was the name Ignatius most popular?
Ignatius peaked in 2025, when 100 American boys received the name (ranked #1663 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Ignatius?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,000 newborn American boys was named Ignatius. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.