Comments (Usage Only)
This name became very popular in Spain (outside of the Basque Country) in the 2000s because of the Spanish footballer Iker Casillas (b. 1981). It has also become popular in some parts of South America for the same reason.
Iker Casillas was born in Madrid but as a child he lived for some years in the Basque Country. His brother also has a Basque name, Unai (meaning "cowherd; herder of cows").
The name Iker and its feminine form Ikerne, like many Basque equivalents of Spanish religious names, were coined in the late 19th century by the Basque writer Sabino Arana in his book "Deun-Ixendegi Euzkotarra / Santoral Vasco" (meaning "Basque saint-name collection", published in 1910). It was basically an onomasticon of Spanish names given Basque forms and equivalents. One of the most interesting things about the book was when a name had a literal meaning in Spanish, like Visitación or Dolores, the author created the Basque form from the equivalent Basque words rather than just rendering the Spanish name in Basque phonics. Thus Arana invented Ikerne (feminine) and Iker (masculine) as Basque equivalents to the Spanish Visitación, drawing them from Basque roots.
2
Iker Casillas was born in Madrid but as a child he lived for some years in the Basque Country. His brother also has a Basque name, Unai (meaning "cowherd; herder of cows").
The name Iker and its feminine form Ikerne, like many Basque equivalents of Spanish religious names, were coined in the late 19th century by the Basque writer Sabino Arana in his book "Deun-Ixendegi Euzkotarra / Santoral Vasco" (meaning "Basque saint-name collection", published in 1910). It was basically an onomasticon of Spanish names given Basque forms and equivalents. One of the most interesting things about the book was when a name had a literal meaning in Spanish, like Visitación or Dolores, the author created the Basque form from the equivalent Basque words rather than just rendering the Spanish name in Basque phonics. Thus Arana invented Ikerne (feminine) and Iker (masculine) as Basque equivalents to the Spanish Visitación, drawing them from Basque roots.
2
The feminine form is Ikerne.
2
2
Iker has become quite popular in Spain, maybe in the top 20 and I have to say that it's because of Iker Casillas. And Spain having won Euro 2008, lol, Iker will probably be top 5 in 2009.
1
1
Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.
https://www.ine.es/widgets/nombApell/index.shtml?L=1
https://www.behindthename.com/name/iker/top/chile
https://www.behindthename.com/name/iker/top/mexico