boy's name
Julian
JOO-lee-un
- Origin Latin
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 302,515
the United States
#25
2025 births
Julian is a boy's name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Julius. Its deeper root is uncertain: it is variously linked to Jupiter, to a Greek word meaning downy-bearded and so youthful, or simply treated as an inherited clan name with no recoverable meaning.
- Julian is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in 2017, when 8,477 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 435 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Julian over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 440 |
| 1890s | 589 |
| 1900s | 838 |
| 1910s | 4,766 |
| 1920s | 7,078 |
| 1930s | 4,954 |
| 1940s | 5,254 |
| 1950s | 4,914 |
| 1960s | 4,961 |
| 1970s | 6,957 |
| 1980s | 13,410 |
| 1990s | 28,336 |
| 2000s | 61,111 |
| 2010s | 79,889 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 44,794 |
What Julian means
Julian means belonging to or descended from Julius. The meaning of Julius itself is unsettled — it may connect to Jupiter or to the Greek ioulos, referring to the first soft beard of a young man, and so to youth.
Where Julian comes from
Julian comes from the Latin Julianus, meaning of the Julii, formed from the Roman clan name Julius. The Julii claimed descent from Iulus, son of Aeneas, which is how the family linked itself to Venus and the founding of Rome — a claim Julius Caesar used to political effect. Roman naming conventions produced Julianus for someone adopted into or descended from that family, and it survived as a personal name into the Christian era through several saints, including Julian the Hospitaller. It was also borne by the fourth-century emperor Julian, the last to attempt a revival of traditional Roman religion. The name has been used in England since the medieval period, when it was given to both men and women.
Julian in use
Julian was used for both sexes in medieval England, with Julian of Norwich among its best-known bearers.
How popular is Julian?
In 2025, Julian was given to 7,626 babies in the United States, ranking #25 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Julian is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Julian is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Juliàn | Juliàn is a rare spelling of Julian, written with a grave accent and recorded about 135 times, mostly in France. | 135 |
| Jùlian | Jùlian is a rare spelling of Julian, written with a grave accent and recorded about 70 times, mostly in France. | 70 |
| Jülian | Jülian is a rare spelling of Julian, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
Names that peaked alongside Julian
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Julian also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Julian over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
6 nicknames for Julian
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Julian in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Julian
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Julian — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Julian
What does the name Julian mean?
Julian means "of the Julii," the Roman clan name; the meaning of Julius itself is uncertain.
Is Julian related to Julius?
Yes. Julian is the Latin adjectival form meaning descended from or belonging to the Julii.
Was Julian ever a girl's name?
Yes. In medieval England Julian was used for both sexes — Julian of Norwich is the best-known example.
How popular is the name Julian?
In 2025, Julian was given to 7,626 babies in the United States, ranking #25 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Julian?
Julian has 3 syllables.
When was Julian most popular?
Julian peaked in 2017, when 8,477 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Julian?
Julian is usually shortened to Jules, Jule, Ian, Lian, Juli and Julie.
Is Julian a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Julian currently ranks #25 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.