Given name & surname
Dylan
“daughter of the waves”·“son of the sea”
Dylan is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of the waves” (Welsh) and “son of the sea” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “daughter of the waves” (Welsh) and “son of the sea” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1953. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dylan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 434,951
- 418,679 boys · 16,272 girls
- Most popular year
- 2001
- 16,696 babies
- 2025
- 6,546
- #41 for boys · #808 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6,208 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 41 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 18.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 16,497 in 2001. It also appeared in 338 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (871). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 343,919 as a first name in 2020; 431 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.
Dylan’s family of names
Dylan has an alternative spelling in Dillon. Dylan has a related form in Dillon. In English usage, Dylan has a related form in Dillan.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 18
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Dylan
- Dylan ThomasWelsh poet and writer (1914–1953)
- Dylan MinnetteAmerican actor and musician (born 1996)
- Dylan O'BrienAmerican actor (born 1991)
- Dylan McDermottAmerican actorborn 1961
- Dylan SprouseAmerican actor (born 1992)
- Dylan WalshAmerican actor (born 1963)
- Dylan BakerAmerican actorborn 1959
- Dylan SprayberryAmerican actorborn 1998
- Dylan BronnTunisian and French association football playerborn 1995
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Dylan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aidan
“one who is fiery; little fire” · “a fiery young man”
99% boys · 1% girls
Ian
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Duncan
“a dark warrior”
>99% boys
Logan
“from the hollow” · “from the little hollow”
91% boys · 9% girls
Cameron
“crooked nose”
90% boys · 10% girls
Brendan
“born to royalty; a prince”
>99% boys
Connor
“lover of hounds” · “a wolf-lover”
>99% boys
Kai
Kai is used in several naming traditions, with different explanations for the same spelling.
93% boys · 7% girls