Origin, Meaning, And History Of Dylan

Dylan is a name of Welsh origin that means “One who is born near the sea or son of the sea.” The name is derived from the Welsh words “dy”, meaning great, and “llanw,” meaning flow. In Welsh mythology, Dylan was the god of the sea, who got killed accidentally by his uncle Govannon. It could also mean “from a large sea” or “winner of mind.” Dylan’s popularity as a given name is attributed mainly to the legendary Welsh poet and singer Dylan Thomas. It is also used as a surname and feminine name in different parts of the world. American composer and performer, Bob Dylan is a popular person with the surname Dylan. Dylan has consistently been among the most popular boy names in the US. The name gained traction in the 90s and witnessed a sharp increase in popularity in 1992. Dylan McKay, the protagonist in the teen drama series “Beverly Hills 90210,” also contributed to the popularity of the name in the 1990s. The name’s popularity saw a downward trend in 1995 before climbing again in 1999. Dylan first made it to the Social Security Administration’s list of most popular baby names in the 1960s and reached its peak rank of 19 in 2004. The name remained consistently popular, finding a place in the top fifty baby names since 2000. As per the latest data, Dylan ranks at the 44th position as the most popular boy name in the US in 2021 (1). Apart from the US, the name is popular in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland. The name Dylan has made a mark across cultures and languages. English-origin names Dillan and Dillon are the most common variations of Dylan. Other variations of Dylan include Dillen (Irish), Daylan, Dannnon (American), Danon( English), Delaney (French), Dyllan, Dyllon, Dylonn, and Dylon (Welsh). You may also choose Dyl, Doll, or Dyn as nicknames for Dylan.

How To Pronounce Dylan?

Dylan On The Popularity Chart

Dylan topped the list of top 100 names in the US consistently and remained popular throughout the years. The name was a popular pick for parents for the past several decades.

Popularity Over Time

Over 15k parents chose this name for their babies in the 2000s while it dropped to 7k in the 2020s. The name reached its peak popularity in 2001 and saw a gradual dip since.

Rank Over Time

The name Dylan reached its best ranking in 1983. However, its ranking went for a toss in the subsequent years, only to come back in the 2010s.

Names With Similar Sound As Dylan

Here are some fascinating names like Dylan that are similar yet different in their style and sound.

Name Numerology For Dylan