Ignacio
Ignacio was the 830th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 298 babies. Its best year was 1930, when it ranked 502nd; the most babies were born in 2006 (313). Over the last ten years it has moved up 96 places. More babies were named Ignacio in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, Spanish
Say it ig-NAH-see-oh /ɪɡˈnɑsioʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #830 boys, up 185 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 298boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2006313 babies
- Total since 1880
- 19,969babies recorded
What does the name Ignacio mean?
Ignacio is the Spanish form of Ignatius, the Latin name of Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Wiktionary explains Ignatius as a form of the Roman family name Egnatius, of uncertain origin and perhaps Etruscan, later altered to look like Latin ignis, "fire"; DMNES likewise says it is only sometimes connected with ignis. The popular meaning "fiery" is therefore not the original one. Nacho is the usual Spanish pet form.
Ignātius (Latin, “Roman family name, altered form of Egnatius”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The origin of the Roman family name is uncertain; the link with ignis 'fire' is a later association.
Other explanations you may read: means 'fiery', from Latin ignis 'fire'.
Related names: Ignatius, Nacho, Iñaki, Ignazio.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ignatius', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ignatius', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Ignacio', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Nicknames for Ignacio
The usual nicknames for Ignacio are Nacho and Iggy.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nacho · the usual Spanish pet form | Traditional | — | — |
| Iggy | Modern | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Ignacios go by each one.
Ignacio popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 22 since 1926.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #830 | 298 |
| 2020 | #1,015 | 205 |
| 2010 | #928 | 217 |
| 2000 | #642 | 283 |
| 1990 | #598 | 281 |
| 1980 | #560 | 236 |
| 1970 | #632 | 165 |
| 1960 | #658 | 141 |
| 1950 | #600 | 130 |
| 1940 | #677 | 80 |
| 1930 | #502 | 142 |
| 1920 | #641 | 97 |
| 1910 | #665 | 20 |
| 1900 | #1,105 | 7 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ignacio, counting every spelling?
Ignacio is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #797 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #830 for Ignacio on its own. Together these spellings went to 304 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignacio | 298 | #830 | 1,325 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ignacio?
298 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ignacio (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ignacio born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 28 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ignacio.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ignacio?
About 15,400 people born in the US named Ignacio are alive today, with a median age of 31; half are between 17 and 49. That makes Ignacio mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ignacio by state
How common Ignacio was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (4.5×), Arizona (2.3×), Texas (2.0×), California (1.9×), Florida (1.9×). In 25 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ignacio: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ignacio, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ignacio · Sibling names for Ignacio
Questions about the name Ignacio
What does Ignacio mean?
The origin of Ignacio is uncertain: the origin of the Roman family name is uncertain; the link with ignis 'fire' is a later association.
How popular is the name Ignacio?
Ignacio was the 830th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 298 babies. Its best year was 1930, when it ranked 502nd; the most babies were born in 2006 (313). Over the last ten years it has moved up 96 places. More babies were named Ignacio in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Ignacio a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ignacio in the US.
Where is Ignacio most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ignacio was most common in New Mexico (0.70 per 1,000 boys), followed by Arizona and Texas.