"blue-purple dye, the color indigo"
Origin: Greek via Latin
Language: English
Indigo
Pronunciation: [ IHND-uhg-oh ]
Does Indigo flow with your last name?
A color as old as trade, as fresh as today
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2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"from India"
Origin: Greek 'indikon'
Language: Greek
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The Story of Indigo
Indigo comes from the Greek 'indikon' and Latin 'indicum,' meaning 'from India' — the plant Indigofera tinctoria that produced the deep blue-purple dye was primarily imported from the Indian subcontinent. Indigo has been used as a color word since the 16th century. As a rainbow color (the 'I' in Roy G. Biv), it gained cultural prominence. Its use as a name reflects both the nature-name trend and the color-name trend in modern baby naming.
Indigo as a name emerged in the 2010s as parents looked beyond traditional color names like Violet and Rose. It's become associated with creativity and artistic sensibility.
Indigo is associated with the New Age concept of 'Indigo children' — a belief from the 1990s-2000s that a generation of children with special spiritual gifts were arriving. While not mainstream, this gave the name a mystical quality.
Historical Record
Indigo first appeared in US Social Security records in 1994.
Over 1,107 babies have been named Indigo in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Indigo is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #1,628 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Indigo dye was so valuable in ancient times that it was called 'blue gold'
- Indigo is one of the seven colors of the rainbow as described by Isaac Newton
Indigo in Other Languages
Arabic
نيلي
French
Indigo
German
Indigo
Spanish
Índigo
Japanese
インディゴ
Popularity Over Time
#1,628
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Indigo
I
Indio Falconer Downey
Musician
1993
Son of Robert Downey Jr., musician and songwriter
I
Indigo (character) Fictional
Other
Recurring character in various fantasy and young adult fiction, representing mystical or gifted children
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #1,628
- Total SSA Count
- 104
- Cultural Origins
- American English International
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Indy
Iggy
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Indigo
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Indigo is also used as a girl name, ranked #923.
View Indigo as a girl name →Similar Names
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Old Dutch origin
"wooded land"
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Geographic/American modern origin
"from the place of wide waters"
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Irish Gaelic origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Indigo
What does the name Indigo mean?
"blue-purple dye, the color indigo" (from Greek via Latin). "from India" (from Greek 'indikon'). Indigo comes from the Greek 'indikon' and Latin 'indicum,' meaning 'from India' — the plant Indigofera tinctoria that produced the deep blue-purple dye was primarily imported from the Indian subcontinent. Indigo has been used as a color word since the 16th century. As a rainbow color (the 'I' in Roy G. Biv), it gained cultural prominence. Its use as a name reflects both the nature-name trend and the color-name trend in modern baby naming.
What is the origin of the name Indigo?
Indigo has Greek via Latin, Greek 'indikon', American, English, and International origins. In Greek via Latin, it means "blue-purple dye, the color indigo". In Greek 'indikon', it means "from India".
Is Indigo a boy or girl name?
Indigo is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1628. As a girl name, it is ranked #923. Indigo is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Indigo?
Indigo is pronounced IHND-uhg-oh.
How popular is the name Indigo?
Indigo is currently ranked #1628 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Indigo?
Common nicknames for Indigo include Indy and Iggy.
What are good middle names for Indigo?
Popular middle name pairings include Indigo James, Indigo Blue, Indigo River, Indigo Cole, Indigo Lee, Indigo Xavier, and Indigo Reign.
What are good sibling names for Indigo?
Names that pair well with Indigo as siblings include Violet, Cobalt, Azure, Luna, Sage, River, Aurora, and Fox.
How many syllables does Indigo have?
Indigo has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Indigo a common or rare name?
Indigo is an uncommon name, ranked #1628 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Indigo?
About the Name Indigo
Indigo is a boy name with American, English, and International origins . The name means "blue-purple dye, the color indigo" in Greek via Latin .
Is Indigo a boy or girl name? Indigo is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,628 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #923. Indigo is more commonly used as a girl name.
Indigo is currently ranked #1,628 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Indigo has 3 syllables and is pronounced IHND-uhg-oh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Indigo include Indy and Iggy. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Indigo include Indiana, Indie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis