Given name & surname
Dillan
“resembling a lion; a faithful man”·“daughter of the waves”·“son of the sea”
Dillan is a variant of Dillon. One interpretation is “resembling a lion; a faithful man.” Dillan is a variant of Dylan. Interpretations include “daughter of the waves” (Welsh) and “son of the sea” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Dillan is a variant of Dillon. One interpretation is “resembling a lion; a faithful man.” Dillan is a variant of Dylan. Interpretations include “daughter of the waves” (Welsh) and “son of the sea” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Dillan is a variant of Dillon. An origin associated with Dillon is Germanic. Dillan is a variant of Dylan. A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dillan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,387
- 6,994 boys · 393 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 341 babies
- 2025
- 37
- #3,871 for boys · #10,312 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 83% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 28 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,871 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 35.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 341 in 1992. It also appeared in 9 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,657 as a first name in 2020; 152 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Dillan’s family of names
Dillan has a related form in Dylan. Dillan has a related form in Dillon.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Dillan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Colwyn
“from the river” · “from the river in Wales”
>99% boys
Tariq
“one who demands entry; of the morning star”
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Arjun
Arjun is used as a given name and a surname. One Sanskrit interpretation is “white: the colour of dawn, lightning, milk, and silver.”
>99% boys
Deshawn
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Dishon
Dishon is a surname.
>99% boys
Diquan
>99% boys
Kegan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
98% boys · 2% girls
Deshun
>99% boys