Indah

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Indonesian

Meaning: “Beautiful.”

Pronunciation: (IN-dah); (EEN-dah)

Nicknames: Indi

Ivana

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Russian from Greek

Meaning: “God is gracious.”

Pronunciation: (ee-VAH-nuh)

Nicknames: Iva, Ivi, Ina, Vana

Feminine form of Ivan, derived from Greek Ioannes “God is gracious”.

Izar

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Basque

Meaning: “Star.”

Pronunciation: (ee-ZAHR)

Nicknames: Zari, Iza, Izi

Iris

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “Rainbow.”

Pronunciation: (AHY-ris)

Nicknames: Iri

Detail: Iris was the ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow, the messenger of the Olympian gods.

Her name contains a double meaning, being connected both with iris, “the rainbow,” and eiris, “messenger.”

Iris can also refer to a genus of ornamental flowering plants, or a part of the eye.

Iowa

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Native American

Meaning: “Sleepy ones.”

Pronunciation: (AHY-oh-wah)

Nicknames: Io

Detail: The state of Iowa was named for the Native Americans living in that territory at the time, the Iowa. Despite the report of the 1879 General Assembly of Iowa, which proclaimed that this word means “the beautiful land”, it is actually a Dakota Sioux word given to the Iowas in jest meaning “sleepy ones”.

Indiana

Gender: Feminine

Origin: English

Meaning: “Land of Indians.”

Pronunciation: (in-dee-AN-uh)

Nicknames: Indie, Ana

Detail: This state has one of the most obvious names in the US with the rather ironic meaning, “the land of Indians.” It was given to the Indiana Territory by the United States Congress when Indiana was created from the Northwest Territory in 1800.

Ibhi

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Sanskrit

Meaning: “Elephant.”

Pronunciation: (IHB-ih); (IH-bee)

Nicknames: Ibs