Iker

updated Sept 2015

Iker ~ Visitation ~ Basque

Pronunciation
I admit it—I was recently reminded of this name on a shopping trip to Ikea. But while the name may look a little similar to the Swedish furniture store, Iker is pronounced EE-kayr (rhymes closer to "beaker" than "biker"). In the US in particular, some may want to pronounce this with a long I sound. This name has Basque origins (a people and language from northeastern Spain and southwestern France) and hasn't been anglicized to any other variations. So if you were wondering how to say this name, there's only one way: EE-kayr.

But...I like Ike!
The variation Ike typically comes from the name Isaac. Occasionally it's used in honor of the former US president, Dwight (Eisenhower), who got his nickname by chance. If you love Ike, you can opt to use it as a full given name, or go with Isaac. Another similar sounding name is Michael and the short form Mike. Not convinced? I wrote more about pronouncing Iker here.

Iker & Soccer
There's one reason why this name has grabbed attention in the past few years: Iker Casillas. Casillas is a Basque football (soccer) goalkeeper who is considered to be the very best of his time. In 2010, he made headlines across the globe by leading Spain to their first World Cup title. His career includes record-breaking wins and the Sports Prince of Asturias Award. He's sponsored by Adidas. He's handsome, athletic, and the epitome of a soccer player. Because of Casillas, the name Iker feels sporty and maybe even synonymous with soccer and goalkeeping.

History
The name Iker does not have a long history. It's said to be an invention of writer Sabino Arara, who wanted to create original Basque names as a way of promoting the culture and language. Arara lived from 1865–1903, making the name Iker just a little more than a century old. Technically Iker is a relatively new name, though it does come from an ancient dialect. The word iker is a direct translation of "visitation" in Basque.

Popularity
Iker is a perfect example of an international name with one big claim to fame. That's why it first made an appearance in the top 1,000 names in the US right after Casillas helped Spain get the World Cup in 2010. But usually trends like this can't be attributed to a famous person alone—the name also has to make sense with what's popular right now.

The strong sound of this name may be a little bit jarring, but Iker shares qualities with a lot of other popular choices right now. Its ending helps the name sit comfortably next to Alexander, Christopher, and Carter (all top 40 names). Of course, the Basque name Xavier has also laid a great foundation for Iker. It's long "e" sound reminds us of Easton and Eli. It's got a "k" like Parker, Luke, and Jackson. Iker is more unique than all of these names. It's got international status and a dashing namesake, making it that much more likely to rise in popularity in the US. Iker sits at #215 for the year 2014. It's on a sharp upward trend. In Spain, Iker is in the top 60 names for boys.