Dilan
Dilan was the 805th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 309 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it ranked 662nd with 414 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 99 places. More babies were named Dilan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Dylan) Origin uncertain · Welsh
- Rank in 2025
- #805 boys, up 34 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 309boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2024414 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,138babies recorded
What does the name Dilan mean?
Dilan is a spelling of Dylan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Dylan's meaning and origin.
Dylan comes from Welsh legend: Dylan ail Don is a sea-linked figure in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi. The meaning is uncertain. 'Son of the sea' and 'great tide' are often given, but Wiktionary marks the Celtic derivation as only possible. Wiktionary also notes that Dylan is unrelated to the Irish surname Dillon despite the shared sound.
Dylan (Middle Welsh, “character in the Mabinogi”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The meaning is not established. Wikipedia derives the name from Welsh dy 'great' + llanw 'tide', citing the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru; Wiktionary treats the Celtic derivation as only possible.
See also: Welsh names.
Dilan popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 104 since 1996.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #805 | 309 |
| 2020 | #839 | 272 |
| 2010 | #832 | 257 |
| 2000 | #1,372 | 92 |
| 1990 | #4,763 | 11 |
| 1980 | #6,504 | 5 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Dilan, counting every spelling?
Dilan is a spelling of Dylan, a name family that ranked #40 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #805 for Dilan on its own. Together these spellings went to 6,834 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan | 6,208 | #41 | 34,281 |
| Dilan | 309 | #805 | 1,635 |
| Dillon | 253 | #930 | 1,632 |
| Dillan | 28 | #3,871 | 227 |
| Dyllan | 11 | #7,321 | 90 |
| Dylon | 11 | #7,322 | 90 |
| Dylen | 6 | #11,021 | 41 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Dilan?
309 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Dilan (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Dilan born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 27 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Dilan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Dilan?
About 6,000 people born in the US named Dilan are alive today, with a median age of 12; half are between 5 and 19. That makes Dilan a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Dilan by state
How common Dilan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (2.1×), New Jersey (1.9×), Tennessee (1.9×), Maryland (1.8×). In 20 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Dilan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Dilan, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Dilan
What does Dilan mean?
The origin of Dylan is uncertain: the meaning is not established. Wikipedia derives the name from Welsh dy 'great' + llanw 'tide', citing the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru; Wiktionary treats the Celtic derivation as only possible.
How popular is the name Dilan?
Dilan was the 805th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 309 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it ranked 662nd with 414 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 99 places. More babies were named Dilan in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Dilan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Dilan in the US.
Where is Dilan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Dilan was most common in Louisiana (0.40 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Jersey and Tennessee.