ivan

plural ivans

1. alternativeAlternative form of iwan.

1. A male given name from Russian of English speakers.

   1 more example

   Amy's husband was called Ivan. Ivan the Terrible, Barry always called him, naturally. 'Ivan? What kind of name is that?' he said to Tracy after Amy's engagement was announced. 'Bloody Russian.' 'Actually, I think it's because he had a Norwegian grandfather', Tracy said. 'Norwegian?' Barry said incredulously, as if she'd just announced that Ivan's family came from the moon.

   2010, Kate Atkinson, Started Early, took My Dog, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 66

2. A transliteration of the Macedonian, Pannonian Rusyn, or Russian male given name Иван (Ivan).

   Synonyms: Vanya

3. A transliteration of the Belarusian or Ukrainian male given name Іва́н (Iván).
4. slangA Russian.

   Ivan is yelling curses at his friends.

5. slangRussians (collectively, personified).

   Ivan is planning an attack on our flank.

6. archaicslangA Soviet.
7. archaicslangSoviets (collectively, personified).

   I’m sure whoever was in charge must have been one of the last of the Fulda Fucktards, you know, those generals who spent their nard-drop years training to defend West Germany from Ivan.

   2006, Max Brooks, World War Z

8. InternetderogatoryAn online troll who promotes views supportive of Russian nationalism or the 2022 invasion of Ukraine; a vatnik.

   Ivan, stop repeating Kremlin propaganda.

1. A male given name from Welsh of Welsh origin.

   Dafydd ap Ivan ap Einion, an adherent to the house of Lancaster held out, in Harlech Castle, for nine years after the accession of Edward the Fourth to the throne of England.

   1833, George Newenham Wright, Scenes in North Wales, T. T. and J. Tegg, page 137