Indigo

Pronunciation: [ IHND-uhg-oh ]

Boy Name #1,628 Most Popular Hidden Gem 3 Syllables

A color as old as trade, as fresh as today

American English International

Unique Whimsical Modern Bold Earthy

Meaning & Origin

"blue-purple dye, the color indigo"

Origin: Greek via Latin

Language: English

"from India"

Origin: Greek 'indikon'

Language: Greek

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.

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

Famous People Named Indigo

Indio Falconer Downey

Musician

1993

Son of Robert Downey Jr., musician and songwriter

Indigo (character) Fictional

Other

Recurring character in various fantasy and young adult fiction, representing mystical or gifted children

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

Indiana #2153 Indie #4952

Common Nicknames

Indy Iggy

Pairs Well With

Indigo James Indigo Blue Indigo River Indigo Cole Indigo Lee Indigo Xavier Indigo Reign

Sibling Names

Violet Cobalt Azure Luna Sage River Aurora Fox

Also a Girl Name

Indigo is also used as a girl name, ranked #923.

View Indigo as a girl name →

Similar Names

Santiago Sergio Rico Tiago Thiago Ziggy Santhiago

Playground Safety

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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.

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.