Now that Isabella is #2 on the list of most popular girls’ names, Isaac and Isaiah are in the Top 50 for boys, and names like Isla are heating up, we’re wondering if the letter ‘I’ just might be in line to become the next vowel du jour, moving up on ‘A’ and ‘E’.

　　This didn’t seem a very likely prospect a few years ago, when, as recently as  1995, there wasn’t a single name starting with ‘I’ in the Top 100.  On the plus side, this means that there is a whole letter-full of neglected, waiting to be discovered, rediscovered and ready-to-be imported names.  And it’s a nice initial for a child to have, straight and strong and tied up with identity and ego.

　　The following girls names are the most fashion forward, either already being appreciated or else on the cusp:

　　IDA

　　ILANA/ILEANA

　　IMOGEN/IMOGENE

　　INDIA

　　INDIANA

　　INDIGO

　　INEZ

　　INGRID

　　IRELAND

　　IRENE

　　IRINA

　　IRIS

　　ISABEL/ISABELLE

　　ISABELLA

　　ISADORA

　　ISLA

　　IVORY

　　IVY

　　And some still not in  the mainstream:

　　IANTHE

　　IDRA

　　IGNACIA

　　ILIA

　　ILONA

　　IMAN

　　IMELDA

　　INGA/INGE

　　IOLANTHE

　　IONE

　　IPHIGENIA

　　ISABEAU

　　ISEULT

　　ISHBEL

　　ISIS

　　ISMAY

　　ISOLDE

　　IVANA/IVANKA

　　And a few that time has left behind:

　　ILA

　　ILKA

　　ILSA/ILSE

　　IMA

　　INA

　　IOLA

　　IONA

　　IRMA

　　ISA

　　There are fewer viable I-choices for the boys.  Those most often heard today:

　　IAN

　　IKE

　　INNES/INNIS

　　ISAAC

　　ISAIAH

　　ISIDORE

　　ISRAEL

　　IVAN

　　Those further out of the mainstream:

　　IAGO

　　IB

　　IBSEN

　　ICARUS

　　IFOR

　　IGGY

　　IGNATIUS

　　IGOR

　　ILYA

　　INGMAR

　　INGO

　　INGRAM

　　INIGO

　　IOLO

　　ISHAM

　　ISHAQ

　　ISHMAEL

　　IVAR

　　IVES

　　IVO

　　IVOR

　　And those, at least momentarily,  lost to time:

　　ICHABOD

　　IRA

　　IRVIN

　　IRVING

　　IRWIN

　　IZZY