boy's name
Innis
IN-is (English)
- Origin Scottish, Gaelic
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 141
Scotland
#901
2024 births
Innis is a boy's name of Gaelic origin meaning "island," from the word inis. It came into use through the Scottish surname Innes, taken from a barony in Moray, and it's found mostly in Scotland, where it remains an uncommon first name.
- Innis is a name of Scottish, Gaelic origin.
- Peaked in Scotland in 2014, when 7 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in Scotland.
- Today about 1 in 12,709 babies in Scotland is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1991.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Innis Over Time
Births per decade in Scotland, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2024.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 42 |
| 2020s (to 2024) | 22 |
What Innis Means
Innis means island. The Gaelic word also covered a piece of land set apart by water, so the name's sense can be a riverside meadow as well as a true island.
Where Innis Comes From
Gaelic inis, an island, appears in place names across Ireland and Scotland, and it's a cousin of Welsh ynys. The barony of Innes in Moray takes its name from this word, referring to land lying between two branches of a stream. The family that held the barony became Clan Innes, and their surname spread in spellings such as Innes and Innis. As in other clan surnames, parents later moved it to first-name use. Tradition traces the family to a Flemish settler granted the lands in the twelfth century.
Innis in Use
In the United States it's used only occasionally, and the spelling Innes is more usual as a Scottish first name. Ennis is the form familiar from the town in County Clare.
How Popular Is Innis?
In 2024, Innis was given to 3 babies in Scotland, ranking #901 that year. It is a rare choice.
Where Innis Is Used
Figures for Scotland leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Innis
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Innis Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Innis over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Innis
- English IN-is
Innis in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Innis
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Innis — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Innis
What does the name Innis mean?
Island, from the Gaelic word inis.
Is Innis a Scottish name?
Yes. It comes from the surname and barony of Innes in Moray.
Is Innis a boy's or a girl's name?
It's used mostly for boys.
How popular is the name Innis?
In 2024, Innis was given to 3 babies in Scotland, ranking #901 that year. It is a rare choice.
How many syllables are in Innis?
Innis has 2 syllables.
When was Innis most popular?
Innis peaked in 2014, when 7 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Innis a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Innis currently ranks #901 in Scotland. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.