Ines
ee-NES /iˈnɛs/
Meaning of Ines
Inês (Portuguese), Inés (Spanish), Inès (French) and Ines are all forms of Agnes, from the Greek Ἁγνή (Hagné) — 'pure' or 'holy.' The Iberian and French forms dropped the initial A- that English retains; the Iberian and French variants developed independently from the medieval period onward. Inês de Castro (c.1325–1355), murdered on the orders of the Portuguese king and later recognised as queen posthumously, is one of the most dramatic figures in Iberian history and the subject of Luís de Camões's epic Os Lusíadas.
How to pronounce Ines
The final s is always pronounced. In French: i-NES (stress on second syllable). In Spanish: i-NÉS (accent on final syllable). In Portuguese: i-NESH (the s softens before a consonant or at end of word in European Portuguese).
Current popularity of Ines
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal (INE) | 2024 | #1 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #3 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #10 |
Notable bearers of Ines
Inês de Castro (Portuguese noblewoman, 1325–1355, subject of Camões's Os Lusíadas); Inès de la Fressange (French model and brand); Inês Castel-Branco (Portuguese actress).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Ines — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores
- https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177009
- https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2540004
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31