Dillon
Dillon was the 930th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 253 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 73rd with 5,062 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 482 places. More babies were named Dillon in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Dylan) Origin uncertain · Welsh
- Rank in 2025
- #930 boys, down 262 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 253boys
- Girls and boys
- 14% girls, 86% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19925,062 babies
- Total since 1880
- 66,270babies recorded
What does the name Dillon mean?
Dillon 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.
Dillon popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,658 | #930 | 41 | 253 |
| 2020 | #2,726 | #668 | 61 | 392 |
| 2010 | #7,623 | #304 | 16 | 1,055 |
| 2000 | #9,352 | #169 | 10 | 2,263 |
| 1990 | #7,451 | #184 | 11 | 1,682 |
| 1980 | — | #673 | — | 166 |
| 1970 | — | #2,321 | — | 16 |
| 1960 | — | #3,426 | — | 7 |
| 1950 | — | #3,104 | — | 7 |
| 1940 | — | #3,581 | — | 5 |
| 1930 | — | #2,100 | — | 14 |
| 1920 | — | #1,709 | — | 21 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Dillon, counting every spelling?
Dillon is a spelling of Dylan, a name family that ranked #40 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #930 for Dillon 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 Dillon?
253 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Dillon (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Dillon 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 33 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Dillon.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Dillon?
About 62,900 people born in the US named Dillon are alive today, with a median age of 28; half are between 21 and 33. That makes Dillon mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Dillon by state
How common Dillon was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Colorado (1.9×), Maryland (1.7×), Massachusetts (1.5×). In 17 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 Dillon: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Dillon, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Dillon
What does Dillon 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 Dillon?
Dillon was the 930th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 253 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 73rd with 5,062 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 482 places. More babies were named Dillon in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Dillon a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 14% girls, 86% boys given the name Dillon in the US.
Where is Dillon most popular?
In 2021–2025, Dillon was most common in Colorado (0.36 per 1,000 boys), followed by West Virginia and Maryland.