Elian
Elian was the 147th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,448 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 541 places. More babies were named Elian in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin not documented
Say it EL-ee-ahn /ˈɛliɑn/
- Rank in 2025
- #147 boys, up 208 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,448boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20252,448 babies
- Total since 1880
- 15,380babies recorded
What does the name Elian mean?
Elian (Spanish Elián) is a modern given name whose origin is not well documented. Wiktionary records Elián as a Spanish boy's name without an etymology, and Wikipedia lists Elian, Elián and French Élian only as names. It is often explained as a form of Elias or Elijah, Hebrew names meaning 'Yahweh is God' according to DMNES, but that link is not confirmed by our sources.
How sure is this? Not documented. No documented etymology; links to Elias/Elijah or Latin Aelianus are suggestions.
Pronunciation: Spanish Elián is stressed on the last syllable: eh-lee-AHN.
Related names: Elias, Elijah, Eliana.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Elián', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Elian', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Elian popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 112 since 1988, 9 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #147 | 2,448 |
| 2020 | #355 | 877 |
| 2010 | #796 | 273 |
| 2000 | #426 | 578 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Elian, counting every spelling?
Elian is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #160 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #147 for Elian on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,471 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elian | 2,448 | #147 | 7,452 |
| Ellian | 23 | #4,434 | 48 |
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 Elian?
2,448 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elian (0.68 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Elian 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 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elian.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elian?
About 15,100 people born in the US named Elian are alive today, with a median age of 6; half are between 2 and 12. That makes Elian 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.
Elian by state
How common Elian was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (3.2×), Arizona (2.4×), Texas (2.2×), Colorado (2.0×), Rhode Island (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Idaho, Mississippi, Michigan.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elian: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elian, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Elian · Sibling names for Elian
Questions about the name Elian
How popular is the name Elian?
Elian was the 147th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,448 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 541 places. More babies were named Elian in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Elian a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Elian in the US.
Where is Elian most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elian was most common in New Mexico (2.73 per 1,000 boys), followed by Arizona and Texas.