Ian

[Nurseornot]

I'm British but I did not grow up in the UK so I don't know many middle aged Ian's. Would it be very strange/awful to name a boy Ian? I seem to love the sound of it but I have heard that it is really dated.

Totally love it.

I know a young Neil, a young Pete, and a young Alan. So there's no reason not to have an Ian.

What about Ioan?

Kids today are so unfamiliar with the name, that they'll say Lan if they come across it in a book.

It's a horrible ugly sounding, bland name. Even when it was popular it sounded awful.

God, no. Tainted forever.

OP, it gets shortened to E.

My brother is an Ian. He's 37.

I love this thread, we don't hold back here on Mumsnet do we? 😂 Honestly though I'm laughing.

Don't do it! You may as well call him Graham if you do - both horribly dated names, like Sharon or Michelle.

I'm in my 50s and have never met an Ian/Iain who is about my age, I think it's more of a name used earlier than the 1960s so it's old enough to come round again.

I like it, I know a lovely Ian in his thirties.

I know a lot of Ian’s but I’m 48. Most of them are older than me.
He will definitely be the only one in school.

Prefer Iain.

I really like Ian, I know 2 in their 30’s and both lovely people.

I prefer the spelling Iain It looks nicer.

I know a baby Iain.

It's a good name. Due a comeback.

My husband's name is Ian and he is bleddy marvellous To me it is a class-less, honest and unpretentious name.

My DH is also 56, so that agrees with the earlier poster that said it was popular in the 60s. His old school friends call him "E"

Enjoy your baby!

What about Ewan? Similar sounding but ..cooler: Ian Beale (as someone upthread said) v Ewan McGregor.

I like it! I prefer the Iain spelling though.

It still seems quite popular in Scotland. There are certainly a few at my kids' schools.

I like it, woulnt worry about what others think. Everyone has an opinion.
Rian & Cian would be popular similar sounding names in my area.

There were 20 baby iain/Ian's last year. Go for it!

Gaelic version of John when spelled properly Iain.

It's DSs middle name. To be fair I do prefer Euan but it was in memory of a couple of special people so Iain it was.

I don't know any young ones but I do know young Alan, Neil, Steven and Philip all mentioned on this thread, as well as a David, Martin, Stewart, Duncan, Robert all in the same vein/era.

My next door neighbour is called Ian. He's recently retired and very active, gardening and fishing. He's married to Trish.

Ian's sister could well be called Patricia.