Ignatius

Ignatius is a masculine name of Latin origin meaning “associated with fire”. Ignatius descends from the Roman family name Egnatius, of obscure Etruscan origin, but was reshaped centuries ago by association with ignis, the Latin word for fire, which now defines it.

Ignatius is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. Rare in the US but persistent in Catholic families and rising among vintage revivalists.

The name Ignatius comes from Latin. Ignatius descends from the Roman family name Egnatius, of obscure Etruscan origin, but was reshaped centuries ago by association with ignis, the Latin word for fire, which now defines it. Saints Ignatius of Antioch and Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, give it formidable history, with Iggy as the escape-hatch nickname.

Ignatius is pronounced ig-NAY-shus.