"Ian" (or "Iain") is the Scots Gaelic version of John. It is a very common name in much of the English-speaking world (though less so in the United States) and many notable people in many different walks of life have been given it as a first name.

Notable Ians (a partial list)

As a first name

*Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, recipient of the Victoria Cross
*Ian Carmichael, OBE, actor
*Ian Dury, singer and songwriter
*Ian Ferguson - disambiguation (four)
*Ian Fleming, novelist, creator of James Bond
*Ian Gibson - disambiguation page (three)
*Ian Oswald Liddell, recipient of the Victoria Cross
*Ian McCulloch - disambiguation page (three)
*Ian John McKay, recipient of the Victoria Cross
*Ian McKellen, actor
*Ian Paisley, Protestant politician
*Ian Reid - disambiguation page (four)
*Ian Smith - disambiguation (four)
*Ian Stewart - disambiguation page (several)
*Ian Woosnam, Welsh golfer
*Ian McDiarmid - a Star Wars actor
*Ian Elmore - political philosopher
*Ian Richardson - Scottish actor

As a family name

*Janis Ian - singer and songwriter

Some notable Iains

*Iain Balshaw MBE, English rugby player
*Iain Macleod, British politician
*Iain Paxton, Scottish rugby player
*Iain Smith, Scottish politician
*Iain Softley, film director

See also

*John (name)

Category:Scottish names

Biography courtesy of the brilliant Wikipedia!