The name Inis is of Irish origin and means "island." It is derived from the Irish word "inis" which refers to an island in general or a specific island such as Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands located off the coast of Galway. The name has a long history in Ireland, with many islands bearing this name throughout the country's coastal regions.
Inis was traditionally used as both a given name and a place name, often referring to an island with significant historical or cultural importance. In Irish mythology, there are several stories that take place on islands called Inis, such as the tale of the pirate queen Grace O'Malley who ruled over the kingdom of Uí Fiachrach in County Mayo.
The name Inis has gained popularity as a given name in recent years due to its unique and distinct sound. It is often chosen by parents looking for a name that is both unusual and meaningful, with many opting for the traditional Irish spelling "Inís" which includes the fada (the little hook above the letter) indicating a long vowel sound.
While Inis may not be as well-known as some other Irish names such as Siobhan or Aoife, it has its own unique charm and significance. It is a name that carries with it a sense of history and connection to Ireland's rich cultural heritage.
The name Inis has a fascinating history of popularity in the United States, as evidenced by these statistics spanning over six decades.
The earliest recorded births with the name Inis occurred in 1891 and 1896, with five births each year. The name then experienced a slight increase in popularity, with seven births in 1902 and eight births in both 1904 and 1907.
In the early 1900s, Inis began to see more frequent usage, with over ten births recorded annually between 1908 and 1914. The peak of this period occurred in 1914, with a total of nineteen births that year.
The popularity of Inis continued to fluctuate throughout the early to mid-20th century. Between 1915 and 1936, there were consistently around twenty births per year. However, from 1937 onwards, the number of annual births with the name Inis began to decrease significantly.
Between 1940 and 1953, only six years had more than five births each year. The last recorded birth with the name Inis in this dataset was in 1956, with a total of six births that year.
Overall, these statistics show that while the popularity of the name Inis has varied over time, it has seen periods of significant usage, particularly between the early 1900s and the mid-1930s.