Ian

¹ American  

[ee-uhn, ee-ahn, ahy-uhn] / ˈi ən, ˈi ɑn, ˈaɪ ən /

noun

1. a male given name, Scottish form of John.

---

-ian ² American  

1. a suffix with the same meaning and properties as -an, though -ian is now the more productive of the two suffixes in recent coinages, especially when the base noun ends in a consonant: Orwellian; Washingtonian .

---

-ian British  

suffix

1. a variant of -an

   Etonian

   Johnsonian

---

Etymology

Origin of -ian

Extracted from Latin loanwords in which -ānus (adjective suffix) is joined to stems ending in i; -an

Example Sentences

Former Assemblyman Ian Calderon offered a more modest promise to provide free child care to families earning less than $100,000 annually and to break up PG&E, California’s largest utility, “and literally take California’s power back.”

From Los Angeles Times

While Hicks and other party leaders did not publicly name the candidates who ought to leave the race, among the candidates lagging in the polls are state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former state Controller Betty Yee, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon.

From Los Angeles Times

Fellow resident Ian Martin, 66, moved to the site in 2018.

From BBC

Dr Ian Smith, a senior lecturer of economics at the University of the West of England who specialises in urban regeneration, said while students may be delighted in taking up said jobs, there was "sometimes an issue" with the quality of the jobs created at venues.

From BBC

Ian Drewery, 69, was travelling back to London from visiting his son in Swindon in September 2025 when he suddenly collapsed.

From BBC