UK boy's name
Ionut
A masculine Romanian name derived from the Greek name Ioannes, meaning "God is gracious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ionut is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ionut popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1461, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 24 births.
This profile covers 226 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2008 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 225 living people in the UK are called Ionut. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ionut ranked #1461 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 17 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 24 boys were registered as Ionut.
- • About 225 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ionut as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1461
2023
Births in 2023
17
Latest year
Peak year
2022
24 births
Estimated living
225
2026
Meaning
What does Ionut mean?
The name Ionut has its origins in the Romanian language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the name Ion, which is derived from the Greek name Ioannes, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." The name Ionut first appeared in Romania during the late Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ionut can be traced back to the 15th century, where it was mentioned in several historical documents from the regions of Wallachia and Moldavia. During this time, the name was primarily used by the Romanian nobility and upper classes.
In the 16th century, the name Ionut gained popularity among the general population, particularly in rural areas. It was often given to boys born on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, which is celebrated on June 24th in the Orthodox Christian tradition.
One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Ionut was Ionut Golescu (1455-1512), a Romanian nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the defense of Wallachia against Ottoman invasions.
Another historically significant figure with the name Ionut was Ionut Brâncoveanu (1688-1714), a Prince of Wallachia and renowned patron of the arts and culture. He was canonized as a saint by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1992.
In the 19th century, the name Ionut became more widespread across Romania, particularly among the middle and lower classes. One of the most famous individuals with the name during this period was Ionut Brătianu (1821-1891), a prominent Romanian statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Romania on several occasions.
During the 20th century, the name Ionut continued to be popular in Romania. One notable figure was Ionut Gheorghe Duca (1879-1933), a Romanian politician and Prime Minister who played a significant role in the country's transition to a constitutional monarchy.
Another important figure was Ionut Antonescu (1882-1946), a Romanian military officer and authoritarian leader who served as Prime Minister and Conducător (leader) of Romania during World War II. Despite his controversial legacy, he remains a significant historical figure in Romanian history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ionut over time
The chart below shows babies named Ionut registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ionut, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2023, compared with 24 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ionut by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ionut was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1342 | 77 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2027 | 134 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2773 | 15 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Ionut
- Isaac 49,129
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
FAQ
Ionut: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ionut in the UK right now?
In 2023, Ionut was ranked #1461 for boys in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.
When was Ionut most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 24 babies registered as Ionut in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ionut?
A masculine Romanian name derived from the Greek name Ioannes, meaning "God is gracious".
How many people are called Ionut in the UK?
A total of 226 babies have been registered as Ionut across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.