Fun Facts About the Name Julian
- Gaining ground: Julian remained in the U.S. top 100 for 26 consecutive years, from 2000 through 2025. In 2025, it gained 5 ranking positions compared with the previous year.
- More than 268 thousand babies named Julian: U.S. records list 268,240 babies given the name Julian from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,306 girls received the name Julian - about 1 girl for every 80 boys.
What Does the Name Julian Mean?
Julian comes from the Latin Iulianus, a name built from Iulius plus the suffix -anus. Its literal sense is "of Julius" or "belonging to the Julian family." Iulius was a Roman family name (the gens Iulia), and its own origin is not certain. One long-standing explanation links it to the Greek ioulos, meaning "downy beard" or "first beard," which gives the customary sense "youthful." Another compares it to Iovis, a form of the god's name Jupiter. For that reason, the literal meaning of Julian is best given as "of the Julian clan," while "youthful" is a traditional interpretation rather than a settled translation.
Julian Name History & Origins
In ancient Rome Iulianus worked as a cognomen, the third name that marked a particular branch of a family. The jurist Salvius Julianus was a leading legal scholar under the emperor Hadrian, and in 193 Didius Julianus briefly held the imperial throne. The name moved into early Christian use through several saints: Julian of Antioch, Julian of Le Mans, and the widely told legend of Julian the Hospitaller. Their cults helped carry the name through medieval Europe.
Latin Iulianus became Julián in Spanish, Julien in French, Giuliano in Italian, and Julian in English and German. In medieval England the spoken form was often written Julian for men and Juliana or Gillian for women; the anchoress remembered as Julian of Norwich, born about 1342, was a woman who bore the name. The name stayed in English use through the medieval and early modern periods, and it was also given in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Julian calendar takes its name from Julius Caesar, not from this derivative, so the two should not be confused.
How Popular is the Name Julian?
Julian recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2017. Julian entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2000.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,477 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #6,481 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #6,052 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #4,718 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 2021 | #4,553 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 2020 | #4,114 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2019 | #4,389 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 2018 | #4,109 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 2017 | #5,736 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2016 | #3,489 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 2015 | #5,203 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #4,597 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2013 | #3,738 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2012 | #4,020 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2011 | #4,188 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2010 | #3,094 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 2009 | #3,484 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2008 | #2,840 | 63 | 0.0033% |
| 2007 | #2,695 | 68 | 0.0035% |
| 2006 | #2,614 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2005 | #2,301 | 78 | 0.0042% |
| 2004 | #2,462 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 2003 | #2,536 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 2002 | #2,237 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 2001 | #2,022 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 2000 | #1,696 | 104 | 0.0057% |
| 1999 | #2,005 | 78 | 0.0044% |
| 1998 | #1,837 | 84 | 0.0048% |
| 1997 | #1,833 | 81 | 0.0047% |
| 1996 | #2,049 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 1995 | #2,295 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1994 | #2,560 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1993 | #2,202 | 60 | 0.0033% |
| 1992 | #2,203 | 61 | 0.0033% |
| 1991 | #2,366 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 1990 | #1,979 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 1989 | #2,036 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 1988 | #1,975 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 1987 | #1,970 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1986 | #2,035 | 53 | 0.0031% |
| 1985 | #2,191 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1984 | #2,400 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1983 | #2,448 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1982 | #2,039 | 51 | 0.0030% |
| 1981 | #2,543 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1980 | #2,953 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1979 | #4,719 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #3,836 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #3,679 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #3,731 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #4,441 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,765 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #3,395 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #3,973 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #6,267 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #4,611 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #3,142 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #3,385 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #3,743 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #4,312 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #4,638 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #3,969 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,891 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #4,120 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #3,249 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #4,949 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #4,807 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #4,058 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,376 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #5,592 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,212 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #4,115 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #4,395 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,291 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #4,192 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,149 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #3,495 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #4,394 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,350 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #4,202 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,284 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,699 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #2,952 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #4,361 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,753 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1940 | #3,674 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #3,283 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #3,667 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #2,634 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #2,446 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #3,583 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #4,046 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,970 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #2,569 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #3,354 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,066 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1929 | #1,918 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1928 | #1,989 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #1,848 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1926 | #1,752 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1925 | #1,820 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1924 | #3,063 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1923 | #2,409 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #2,679 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #2,433 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1920 | #1,985 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1919 | #1,886 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1918 | #2,592 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1917 | #2,485 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #1,832 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1915 | #2,315 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1914 | #1,961 | 13 | 0.0017% |
| 1913 | #3,017 | 6 | 0.0010% |
| 1912 | #2,501 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #2,074 | 7 | 0.0017% |
| 1910 | #2,593 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1909 | #1,331 | 11 | 0.0032% |
| 1908 | #1,759 | 7 | 0.0021% |
| 1907 | #1,572 | 8 | 0.0025% |
| 1906 | #1,839 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1904 | #1,766 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| 1900 | #1,650 | 7 | 0.0023% |
| 1899 | #1,500 | 6 | 0.0026% |
| 1898 | #1,433 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1896 | #1,712 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1891 | #1,422 | 5 | 0.0027% |
| 1890 | #1,054 | 8 | 0.0042% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #25 | 7,603 | 0.4451% |
| 2024 | #30 | 7,368 | 0.4295% |
| 2023 | #33 | 7,091 | 0.4150% |
| 2022 | #35 | 7,301 | 0.4185% |
| 2021 | #33 | 7,685 | 0.4396% |
| 2020 | #34 | 7,551 | 0.4377% |
| 2019 | #31 | 8,441 | 0.4707% |
| 2018 | #36 | 8,367 | 0.4609% |
| 2017 | #37 | 8,451 | 0.4567% |
| 2016 | #39 | 8,388 | 0.4421% |
| 2015 | #45 | 8,061 | 0.4207% |
| 2014 | #47 | 7,686 | 0.4002% |
| 2013 | #47 | 7,519 | 0.3976% |
| 2012 | #53 | 7,388 | 0.3895% |
| 2011 | #50 | 7,627 | 0.4016% |
| 2010 | #53 | 7,588 | 0.3955% |
| 2009 | #62 | 7,387 | 0.3725% |
| 2008 | #61 | 7,468 | 0.3661% |
| 2007 | #66 | 6,781 | 0.3268% |
| 2006 | #65 | 6,797 | 0.3307% |
| 2005 | #74 | 6,116 | 0.3062% |
| 2004 | #74 | 5,673 | 0.2858% |
| 2003 | #77 | 5,410 | 0.2739% |
| 2002 | #78 | 5,223 | 0.2690% |
| 2001 | #82 | 4,944 | 0.2545% |
| 2000 | #87 | 4,590 | 0.2337% |
| 1999 | #111 | 3,218 | 0.1676% |
| 1998 | #124 | 3,053 | 0.1597% |
| 1997 | #131 | 2,911 | 0.1544% |
| 1996 | #129 | 2,858 | 0.1509% |
| 1995 | #132 | 2,703 | 0.1420% |
| 1994 | #140 | 2,505 | 0.1297% |
| 1993 | #135 | 2,490 | 0.1270% |
| 1992 | #134 | 2,548 | 0.1276% |
| 1991 | #122 | 2,690 | 0.1331% |
| 1990 | #123 | 2,700 | 0.1315% |
| 1989 | #138 | 2,210 | 0.1105% |
| 1988 | #167 | 1,672 | 0.0873% |
| 1987 | #183 | 1,492 | 0.0799% |
| 1986 | #172 | 1,545 | 0.0839% |
| 1985 | #174 | 1,529 | 0.0827% |
| 1984 | #237 | 938 | 0.0520% |
| 1983 | #241 | 933 | 0.0520% |
| 1982 | #235 | 993 | 0.0547% |
| 1981 | #252 | 869 | 0.0485% |
| 1980 | #280 | 753 | 0.0422% |
| 1979 | #301 | 663 | 0.0385% |
| 1978 | #293 | 644 | 0.0392% |
| 1977 | #266 | 745 | 0.0453% |
| 1976 | #264 | 735 | 0.0468% |
| 1975 | #262 | 744 | 0.0476% |
| 1974 | #288 | 650 | 0.0413% |
| 1973 | #264 | 716 | 0.0459% |
| 1972 | #296 | 624 | 0.0385% |
| 1971 | #303 | 645 | 0.0365% |
| 1970 | #309 | 635 | 0.0342% |
| 1969 | #344 | 525 | 0.0294% |
| 1968 | #355 | 472 | 0.0272% |
| 1967 | #351 | 452 | 0.0259% |
| 1966 | #353 | 453 | 0.0254% |
| 1965 | #353 | 461 | 0.0248% |
| 1964 | #349 | 507 | 0.0254% |
| 1963 | #360 | 471 | 0.0232% |
| 1962 | #365 | 478 | 0.0231% |
| 1961 | #344 | 525 | 0.0247% |
| 1960 | #353 | 491 | 0.0230% |
| 1959 | #365 | 463 | 0.0217% |
| 1958 | #358 | 460 | 0.0217% |
| 1957 | #357 | 454 | 0.0210% |
| 1956 | #348 | 450 | 0.0213% |
| 1955 | #339 | 470 | 0.0228% |
| 1954 | #329 | 494 | 0.0242% |
| 1953 | #315 | 520 | 0.0264% |
| 1952 | #312 | 521 | 0.0268% |
| 1951 | #315 | 492 | 0.0261% |
| 1950 | #302 | 505 | 0.0282% |
| 1949 | #292 | 535 | 0.0302% |
| 1948 | #299 | 533 | 0.0304% |
| 1947 | #295 | 552 | 0.0302% |
| 1946 | #280 | 523 | 0.0322% |
| 1945 | #280 | 462 | 0.0343% |
| 1944 | #278 | 457 | 0.0335% |
| 1943 | #253 | 554 | 0.0388% |
| 1942 | #249 | 530 | 0.0384% |
| 1941 | #248 | 501 | 0.0408% |
| 1940 | #238 | 510 | 0.0440% |
| 1939 | #252 | 458 | 0.0414% |
| 1938 | #266 | 425 | 0.0383% |
| 1937 | #253 | 449 | 0.0421% |
| 1936 | #248 | 449 | 0.0433% |
| 1935 | #235 | 497 | 0.0477% |
| 1934 | #241 | 474 | 0.0459% |
| 1933 | #244 | 455 | 0.0459% |
| 1932 | #217 | 559 | 0.0535% |
| 1931 | #235 | 502 | 0.0483% |
| 1930 | #219 | 592 | 0.0539% |
| 1929 | #214 | 592 | 0.0550% |
| 1928 | #212 | 633 | 0.0571% |
| 1927 | #214 | 621 | 0.0551% |
| 1926 | #199 | 703 | 0.0633% |
| 1925 | #195 | 716 | 0.0642% |
| 1924 | #193 | 728 | 0.0643% |
| 1923 | #201 | 673 | 0.0614% |
| 1922 | #181 | 773 | 0.0710% |
| 1921 | #182 | 765 | 0.0695% |
| 1920 | #195 | 693 | 0.0651% |
| 1919 | #186 | 686 | 0.0700% |
| 1918 | #182 | 724 | 0.0714% |
| 1917 | #186 | 652 | 0.0704% |
| 1916 | #187 | 625 | 0.0702% |
| 1915 | #191 | 579 | 0.0682% |
| 1914 | #189 | 449 | 0.0686% |
| 1913 | #187 | 360 | 0.0702% |
| 1912 | #197 | 294 | 0.0684% |
| 1911 | #199 | 152 | 0.0673% |
| 1910 | #201 | 129 | 0.0664% |
| 1909 | #210 | 102 | 0.0622% |
| 1908 | #221 | 88 | 0.0570% |
| 1907 | #209 | 92 | 0.0627% |
| 1906 | #176 | 102 | 0.0766% |
| 1905 | #216 | 78 | 0.0590% |
| 1904 | #236 | 65 | 0.0507% |
| 1903 | #237 | 59 | 0.0495% |
| 1902 | #229 | 62 | 0.0505% |
| 1901 | #210 | 66 | 0.0620% |
| 1900 | #226 | 79 | 0.0525% |
| 1899 | #250 | 45 | 0.0424% |
| 1898 | #209 | 69 | 0.0562% |
| 1897 | #240 | 53 | 0.0470% |
| 1896 | #241 | 57 | 0.0477% |
| 1895 | #240 | 55 | 0.0469% |
| 1894 | #238 | 53 | 0.0458% |
| 1893 | #206 | 68 | 0.0605% |
| 1892 | #248 | 52 | 0.0426% |
| 1891 | #244 | 43 | 0.0425% |
| 1890 | #209 | 63 | 0.0567% |
| 1889 | #231 | 49 | 0.0443% |
| 1888 | #257 | 47 | 0.0389% |
| 1887 | #251 | 40 | 0.0394% |
| 1886 | #240 | 50 | 0.0451% |
| 1885 | #236 | 49 | 0.0455% |
| 1884 | #249 | 48 | 0.0419% |
| 1883 | #227 | 48 | 0.0459% |
| 1882 | #269 | 41 | 0.0361% |
| 1881 | #264 | 36 | 0.0357% |
| 1880 | #296 | 32 | 0.0290% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
