Imogen
Fact sheet
- Name
- Imogen
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
The female first name Imogen has its origin in the theatrical work 'Cymbeline' by William Shakespeare, which was created in the early 17th century.
What does the name Imogen mean?
Imogen originates from the play 'Cymbeline' by William Shakespeare. The name likely arose from a typographical error, as the character was originally meant to be named Innogen. The meaning of the name could encompass 'the girl', 'the young woman', or 'the daughter', possibly also derived from Latin as 'the image'. The roots of the name are likely found in Celtic or Irish, deriving either from the Old Irish enigena or ingen for 'the daughter' and 'the girl', or from the Gaelic inghean for 'the maid', 'the virgin', or 'the young lady'. The name gained recognition through the portrayal of the loyal wife Imogen in Shakespeare's work. It became popular among educated English aristocracy, yet remained relatively rare. In the USA, however, the spelling Imogene is used more frequently.
Where does the name Imogen come from?
The etymology of Imogen is Old Irish and means 'the girl'. The Old Irish Celtic.
How do you pronounce Imogen?
The sound and pronunciation of Imogen are soft and flowing, shaped by English influences. Imogen is typically pronounced as 'Im-uh-jən' [ˈɪmədʒən], starting compactly and then developing into a flowing movement. The combination of soft and slightly rough sounds creates an interesting tension, while the gentle ending gives the name a rounded quality. Imogen thus appears elegant, vibrant, and exhibits a nuanced, soft sound quality with a subtle, modern touch.
Popularity
Imogen is a rather rare first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 5,884th in the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2011 at 2,438th. Over the last ten years, Imogen has been given as a first name about 30 times, placing it 4,561st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, the name ranks 4,325th.
Nicknames & pet names
Emoji / Emotion / Gen / Imagin / Imchen / Imen / Imi / Imke / Immi / Immo / Immy / Imo / Imy / Mo / Mogen / Mogi / Mogie / Momo / Ogen
Similar first names
Famous people
- Imogen Annesley (Australian actress)
- Imogen Bain (British actress)
- Imogen Bankier (professional badminton player)
- Imogen Burrel (actress)
- Imogen Carpenter (American actress)
- Imogen Claire Holst (composer from the UK)
- Imogen Cooper (pianist)
- Imogen Cunningham (photographer from America)
- Imogen Edwards-Jones (English author)
- Imogen Hassall (English actress)
- Imogen Heap (musician, singer)
- Imogen Herondale (character from the book series 'The Mortal Instruments')
- Imogen Holst (British composer)
- Imogen Kimmel (German film director)
- Imogen Kogge (actress)
- Imogen Lloyd Webber (author from England)
- Imogen Oona Lehmann (German curler)
- Imogen Poots (British actress and model)
- Imogen Potts (actress)
- Imogen Rhia Herrad (author from Brazil)
Frequently asked questions about the name Imogen
What is the origin of the name Imogen?
The name Imogen has its roots in Old Irish and means 'the girl'. ingen stands for 'the daughter' or 'the girl', while inghean in Gaelic means 'the maid', 'the virgin', or 'the young lady'.
What does the name Imogen mean?
Imogen is often associated with 'the girl', 'the young woman', or 'the daughter'. A possible derivation from Latin could be 'the image'. The name is likely of Celtic or Irish origin.
How popular is the name Imogen?
Imogen is known primarily among educated English aristocracy but has remained relatively rare. In the USA, the variant Imogene enjoys greater popularity.