Ivey

Meaning & origin

The name Ivey has been in use since the late 19th century, first recorded in 1883, but has seen its greatest popularity in recent decades. It reached its peak rank in 2024, reflecting a trajectory of rising usage that began in 1988. The name is most common in the southern United States, with top states including Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana. Its similarity to the plant name Ivy gives it a natural feel, while the alternative spelling adds a distinct touch. Despite occasional masculine use, Ivey is predominantly given to girls, ranking 925th in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in 5,700 newborns. The name's revival and sustained increase mirror broader trends favoring vintage and nature-inspired names.

Ivey is a variant of the name Ivy, which derives from the English word for the climbing evergreen plant, itself from Old English 'ifig'. As a given name, Ivy first appeared in the late 19th century, and Ivey may have developed as a spelling variation. Alternatively, Ivey could be a transferred use of the surname Ivey, which has multiple possible origins including a habitational name from places in France or a variant of Ivy. Modern usage as a girl's name has risen sharply since the 1980s.