Ivy
Meaning of Ivy
Ivy is an English name taken directly from the ivy plant, which comes from the Old English word ifig; its meaning is simply ivy. Because the vine keeps its leaves through winter, it has traditionally stood for fidelity and enduring attachment, and that symbolism has carried over to the name. It is pronounced EYE-vee in both American and British English.
The plant supplies most of the name's associations. Ivy features in the traditional English Christmas carol The Holly and the Ivy, and the name has no biblical or classical source behind it; parents have chosen it for the plant itself. Among prominent bearers is Ivy, the South Korean singer and musical actress born Park Eun-hye.
In the United States the name has climbed from the margins of the rankings to near the top of them. In 1946 it reached its lowest point, 1,087th, with 61 girls named Ivy. It entered the top 100 in 2018, at 86th, and peaked at 36th in 2024; in 2025 it ranked 39th, with 5,117 babies.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as EYE-vee (/ˈaɪ.viː/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ivy
| Ivy, born Park Eun hye, is a South Korean singer and musical actress. |
| Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland - Ivy Cavendish Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, held the title from 1943 to 1977, later becoming Dowager Duchess, and founded the Harley Foundation to encourage creativity. |
| Ivy Kellerman Reed was an American author who wrote in the international language Esperanto. |
| Ivy Claire Pochoda is an American novelist and former professional squash player who grew up in Brooklyn and now lives in Los Angeles. |
