Julian

youthful, downy
American origin · Boy name
99% boys1% girls
#33US 2023
7.1kBirths / yr
Stable
230.8kAll-time births
📅 Since 1880🏆 21 years in top 1000.47% of births at peak
How to pronounce Julian
JOO·lee·un
/ˈdʒuː.liː.ən/ · stress on JOO · 2 syllables
youthful, downy
American origin · Boy name

What does Julian mean and where does it come from?

Julian is a name derived from the Latin name 'Julianus', which is a diminutive form of 'Julus' or 'Julius'. Although Julian is typically a male name, it has seen increasing use as a feminine name, particularly in modern times. It first appeared as a given name in the English language around the late

Cultural significance
Julian has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in American-speaking communities, where it reflects values of youthful, downy.
Peak popularity
Reached #31 in 2019 — currently #33 in the US.
🌿
Related Reading
American-origin baby names with timeless appeal
Browse names →

How else can you spell Julian?

Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive

What middle names flow best with Julian?

Julian works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Julian Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Julian Rose
Floral · soft ending
Julian Mae
Sweet · timeless
Julian Claire
French influence · crisp
Julian Jane
Literary · strong
Julian Skye
Modern · airy feel
👶
Middle Names
The best middle names for Julian
Browse ideas →

How popular is Julian right now?

Holding steady — currently #33 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 18802023#33 · Top 0.02%
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
YearUS RankBirthsvs Prior Year
2023#337,091▲ up 2 · -3% births
2022#357,301▼ down 2 · -5% births
2021#337,685▲ up 1 · +3% births
2020#347,488▲ up 11 · -7% births
2015#458,046▲ up 8 · +6% births
2010#537,580▲ up 21 · +24% births
2005#746,113▲ up 13 · +33% births
2000#874,589▲ up 45 · +70% births
1995#1322,701▼ down 9
1990#1232,698▲ up 51 · +77% births
1985#1741,527▲ up 106 · +103% births
1980#280752▼ down 18 · +1% births
1975#262746▲ up 47 · +17% births
1970#309636▲ up 44 · +38% births
1965#353461

The story of Julian

Julian has been a beloved American name for over 144 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1880. Its peak popularity was #31 in 2019. More than 230,761 babies have been named Julian since 1880. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #296 in 1880 to #33 in 2023. Julian is used for both genders: 1% female and 99% male.

Names that peaked alongside Julian in 2019:

Julian by decade

Julian peaked in the 2010s. See all 2010s names →

DecadeBirths
1880s440
1890s589
1900s838
1910s4,767
1920s7,079
1930s4,950
1940s5,254
1950s4,918
1960s4,964
1970s6,959
1980s13,404
1990s28,317
2000s61,080
2010s79,682
2020s7,520

What are good nicknames for Julian?

ENGLISH
JoolsJules
ANCIENT ROMAN
IulianaJuliana
BULGARIAN
Yuliana
CROATIAN
Julijana

What are the girl versions of Julian?

Iuliana ANCIENT ROMANJuliana ANCIENT ROMANYuliana BULGARIANJulijana CROATIANJuliana DUTCHGill ENGLISHGillian ENGLISHJill ENGLISHJillian ENGLISHJillie ENGLISHJilly ENGLISHJuliana ENGLISHJulianna ENGLISHJulianne ENGLISHLeanna ENGLISHLiana ENGLISHJuliane FRENCHJulienne FRENCHJuliana GERMANJuliane GERMANLiane GERMANJulianna HUNGARIANYuliana INDONESIANGiuliana ITALIANLiana ITALIANJulijana MACEDONIANJulianna POLISHJuliana PORTUGUESELiana PORTUGUESEIuliana ROMANIANLiana ROMANIANUliana RUSSIANUlyana RUSSIANYuliana RUSSIANYulianna RUSSIANJulijana SERBIANJulijana SLOVENEJuliana SPANISHIulia ANCIENT ROMANIulius ANCIENT ROMANJulia ANCIENT ROMANJulius ANCIENT ROMANJulia BIBLICALYuliya BULGARIANJúlia CATALANGhjulia CORSICANJulija CROATIANJulie CZECHJulia DANISHJulie DANISHJulia DUTCHJulie DUTCHLia DUTCHLieke DUTCHJools ENGLISHJules ENGLISHJulia ENGLISHJulie ENGLISHJuliet ENGLISHJulius ENGLISHJulia FINNISHJules FRENCHJulie FRENCHJuliette FRENCHJulia GERMANJulie GERMANJulius GERMANJulitta HISTORYGyula HUNGARIANJuli HUNGARIANJúlia HUNGARIANJuliska HUNGARIANLili HUNGARIANIúile IRISHGiulia ITALIANGiulietta ITALIANGiulio ITALIANJūlija LATVIANJulija LITHUANIANJulia NORWEGIANJulie NORWEGIANJulek POLISHJulia POLISHJulita POLISHJuliusz POLISHJúlia PORTUGUESEJulie PORTUGUESEJulinha PORTUGUESEJúlio PORTUGUESEIulia ROMANIANIuliu ROMANIANJulia RUSSIANJuliya RUSSIANYuli RUSSIANYulia RUSSIANYuliy RUSSIANYuliya RUSSIANJúlia SLOVAKJúlius SLOVAKJulij SLOVENEJulija SLOVENEJulia SPANISHJulie SPANISHJulio SPANISHJulia SWEDISHJulia UKRAINIANJuliya UKRAINIANYulia UKRAINIANYuliya UKRAINIAN

Common questions about the name Julian

What does the name Julian mean?
Julian means "youthful, downy" — a name rooted in American tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Julian?
Julian is currently ranked #33 in the United States as a baby name in the US and is holding steady in popularity, a reliable classic that parents consistently choose.
What is the cultural origin of Julian?
Julian originates from American tradition. American names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Julian?
Julian is a two-syllable name pronounced JH UW1 L IY0 AH0 N. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
Is Julian more of a girl or boy name?
Julian is a genuinely unisex name used for both boys and girls. The unisex quality makes it particularly versatile for modern families.