Here you’ll find 46 Old man names that start with I that begin with I, organized from “Iago” to “Izidor”. These names are mostly traditional and regional, useful for writers, genealogists, parents, and curious readers.

[Old man names that start with I] are male names beginning with I, often rooted in European and Semitic languages. Iago, for example, became widely known through Shakespeare’s Othello, showing how a name can gain lasting cultural meaning.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin, Meaning, and Notes.

Name: The given name itself, shown in standard spelling so you can quickly scan or pick names for characters or records.

Pronunciation: Phonetic guide showing how to say the name, so you can read it aloud accurately or test its sound.

Origin: Language or country of origin, giving cultural context so you know a name’s geographic roots and historical flavor.

Meaning: A concise interpretation of the name’s original sense, helping you choose names that match a character’s traits or family history.

Notes: Additional info such as diminutives, variants, or notable bearers, useful when you want more context or inspiration.

Old man names that start with I

Name Origin Meaning Era/Popularity note Description
Isaac Hebrew laughter Biblical; common 1800s–early 1900s Classic biblical name borne by patriarch Isaac; familiar, timeless choice for older generations.
Isaiah Hebrew Yahweh is salvation Biblical; common 19th–early 20th centuries Prophetic Old Testament name (often Isaiah); traditional, dignified and familiar to older men.
Ishmael Hebrew God will hear Biblical; historic, 18th–early 20th centuries Old Testament name with a rugged, biblical feel; less common today but historically used.
Isidore Greek/Latin gift of Isis Late 19th–early 20th centuries Greek-origin name popular among scholars and saints; feels old-fashioned and scholarly.
Ignatius Latin (Roman) likely “fiery” (from ignis) Strong Catholic use; 16th–early 20th centuries Distinctive Catholic name (St. Ignatius of Loyola); formal, classical, often seen in older generations.
Ivor Old Norse/Old English yew (bow) or archer Early–mid 20th century (UK) Stately Anglo-Scandinavian name with a rustic, veteran feel; familiar in Britain among older men.
Ivo Germanic yew wood / archer Medieval to early 20th century Short medieval name used across Europe; crisp, somewhat old-fashioned today.
Ivan Slavic God is gracious Common historically 19th–mid 20th (Slavic regions) Slavic form of John; widespread historically and strongly associated with older Eastern European men.
Ian Scottish God is gracious Mid 20th century peak (UK) Scottish form of John, familiar across English-speaking countries; evokes mid-century fathers and grandfathers.
Iain Scottish Gaelic God is gracious Mid 20th century (Scotland) Gaelic spelling of Ian, traditional in Scotland and common among older Scottish men.
Irving Scottish/English green water / sea friend Peaked late 19th–early 20th centuries Once-popular given name of Scottish origin; now feels vintage and associated with older men.
Ira Hebrew watchful, vigilant Peaked late 1800s–1930s Short biblical name found in records of 19th–20th-century men; crisp and old-fashioned.
Immanuel Hebrew God with us Biblical; 19th–early 20th centuries Formal biblical name (also Emmanuel); traditional in Christian communities, often used in older generations.
Imre Hungarian Hungarian form of Emeric; “home ruler” Early–mid 20th century (Hungary) Classic Hungarian name with medieval roots; familiar among older Hungarian men.
Igor Old Norse via Slavic protected by Ing (god) 20th-century prevalence (Russia/Eastern Europe) Strong Russian/Slavic name with Viking roots; common among older Eastern European men.
Ilya Russian My God is Yahweh (Elijah) Traditional in Russia; 19th–20th centuries Russian form of Elijah, a common traditional name for older Russian men (often spelled Ilya).
Idris Welsh/Arabic (Welsh) ardent lord / (Arabic) interpreter Medieval Welsh and Arabic usage; historic Dual-root name: legendary Welsh prince and Arabic scholarly name; classic in both traditions.
Inigo Basque/Spanish “my little one” (from Eneko) Medieval to early modern Spain; 16th–19th c. Historic Spanish/Basque name (Íñigo), famously borne by the 16th-century St. Ignatius; old-world charm.
Iago Welsh/Spanish supplanter (James/ Jacob) Medieval to early modern Spain/Wales Spanish/Welsh form of James; literary fame from Shakespeare gives it a historical, dramatic feel.
Ion Romanian God is gracious Longstanding Romanian use; older generations Romanian form of John, widely used historically and common among older Romanian men.
Ioan Welsh/Romanian God is gracious Traditional in Wales & Romania; 19th–20th centuries Variant of John used in Wales and Romania; classic, time-worn name for older men.
Ioannis Greek God is gracious Traditional Greek usage across centuries Formal Greek form of John (often shortened to Yannis); traditional and common among older Greek men.
Ivar Old Norse yew bow warrior Viking-age name; revived historically in Scandinavia Strong Norse name with warrior associations; traditional in Scandinavia, common in older rural generations.
Ingmar Old Norse/Scandinavian Ing’s famous (Ing = deity) 20th-century use in Scandinavia Classic Scandinavian name with an old-fashioned, rugged feel among older men.
Ingvar Old Norse Ing’s warrior Viking-age and later Scandinavia Sturdy Norse name used historically in Scandinavia; evokes older generations.
Ismail Arabic/Hebrew God will hear (Ishmael) Traditional in Muslim world; long history Arabic form of Ishmael; classic, widely used historically among older men in Muslim societies.
Isidro Spanish gift of Isis Traditional in Spain/Latin America; older generations Spanish form of Isidore, borne by saints; a traditional, somewhat old-fashioned Spanish male name.
Ismael Spanish/Portuguese God will hear Traditional in Iberian world; historic use Romance-language form of Ishmael; widely used historically in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities.
Isaias Spanish Yahweh is salvation (Isaiah) Traditional biblical form in Spanish-speaking regions Spanish form of Isaiah, familiar in older Hispanic communities and church records.
Illarion Greek/Russian cheerful, content (from Hilarion) Orthodox Christian usage; 18th–early 20th centuries Russian form of Hilarion, used historically among Orthodox Christians; formal and old-fashioned.
Iskandar Persian/Arabic/Turkic Alexander; “defender of men” Medieval to early modern Middle East Regional form of Alexander (Sikandar/Iskandar), historically used by rulers and commoners alike.
Ishaq Arabic Isaac; “he will laugh” Traditional in Muslim communities; long history Arabic form of Isaac, widely used historically and common among older men in Arabic-speaking regions.
Iban Basque Basque form of John (“God is gracious”) Traditional Basque name; older generations Basque cognate of John, historically used and familiar in Basque-speaking areas.
Isambard Old Germanic/Norman iron-bright or iron-axe Medieval/19th-century use (notably Brunel) Rare Norman/Germanic name known from Isambard Kingdom Brunel; distinctly Victorian and historical.
Ildefonso Gothic/Spanish ready for battle (hild + funs) Medieval Spain; traditional Catholic use Spanish saint’s name with medieval Gothic roots; formal and strongly historical.
Imbert Old Germanic/French whole-bright or famous raven Medieval to early modern France/England Medieval French name attested in records; sounds antiquated and suitable for historical older figures.
Ives French/English yew (archer) Medieval–early modern usage in Britain/France Variant of Yves/Ivo, seen in medieval records and saint names; quaint and traditional.
Izidor Slavic gift of Isis (Isidore) 19th–early 20th in Central/Eastern Europe Slavic form of Isidore, used traditionally in Poland, Croatia and neighbors; vintage scholarly tone.
Isidor Eastern European gift of Isis Traditional in Orthodox/Eastern Europe Variant spelling of Isidore common in Slavic and German records; formal and old-fashioned.
Iorwerth Welsh handsome lord / noble lord Medieval Wales; historic Welsh usage Distinctly medieval Welsh name (pronounced Yor-werth); carries rugged, ancestral Welsh character.
Ieuan Welsh God is gracious (John) Traditional in Wales; older generations Welsh form of John, pronounced roughly “YAY-an”; a literary, long-standing Welsh name.
Italo Italian from Italy / Italian Early–mid 20th century Italy Italian masculine name with patriotic roots; classic in older Italian men.
Iolo Welsh diminutive of Ior (John) 18th–19th century Wales Welsh diminutive used historically as a proper name (e.g., Iolo Morganwg); quaint and literary.
Iustin Romanian/Latin just, fair (Justin) Traditional in Romania; older records Romanian/Latin form of Justin, seen in ecclesiastical and historical records; formal and traditional.
Ignacy Polish fiery one (Ignatius) 18th–early 20th centuries (Poland) Polish form of Ignatius, very traditional and common in older Polish generations.
Iskander Arabic/Persian Alexander; defender of men Medieval Islamic world; historical use Variant of Alexander used across the Middle East and Central Asia; historical and regal in tone.

Descriptions

Isaac
Isaiah
Ishmael
Isidore
Ignatius
Ivor
Ivo
Ivan
Ian
Iain
Irving
Ira
Immanuel
Imre
Igor
Ilya
Idris
Inigo
Iago
Ion
Ioan
Ioannis
Ivar
Ingmar
Ingvar
Ismail
Isidro
Ismael
Isaias
Illarion
Iskandar
Ishaq
Iban
Isambard
Ildefonso
Imbert
Ives
Izidor
Isidor
Iorwerth
Ieuan
Italo
Iolo
Iustin
Ignacy
Iskander
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