I'm looking to find out if my teacher was correct. Is the name Ian short for some Greek gods name?

Question

The name was something along the lines of Ianopheles...he said that it was shortend because when some people pronounced it they would say Ian-Awful-Flys, I hope that someone can help.

Answer 1

I found this on Ian:

IAN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Scottish, English
Pronounced: EE-an
Modern Scottish form of JOHN
JOHN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, Biblical
Pronounced: JAHN
English form of Iohannes, which was the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "YAHWEH is gracious". This name owes its consistent popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered as saints. The first was John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ and a victim of beheading by Herod Antipas. The second was the apostle John, also supposedly the author of the fourth Gospel and Revelation. The name has been borne by 23 popes and eight Byzantine emperors, as well as kings of England, France, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Portugal and Hungary. It was also borne by the poet John Milton and the philosopher John Locke.

Answer 2

Didn't find any Ians except for the Irish/Scottish name for John in the God's list

Answer 3

Ian (First Name Origin and Meaning)

Scottish · Male

God is gracious.

Answer 4

I found much the same but there is a possible connection to Ian God of Hades.

Answer 5

Ian is the Irish (Gaelic) form of John

Answer 6

I looked here and could find nothing on Ian as being linked to Greek gods

http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?_gods-list

Answer 7

You can shorten any name that is long if you want. There is no correct way to do it. Interestingly, I was not able to find this name in yahoo search engine. At all. If no one can pronounce it correctly then they shortened it to make it easier.

Answer 8

Yes. Ian Flemming, the god of spies.