Given name & surname
Elan
“of the tree”·“from the oak tree”
In English use, Elan is a variant of Ilan. One Hebrew interpretation is “of the tree.” Elan is a variant of Elana. One Hebrew interpretation is “from the oak tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Elan is a variant of Ilan. One Hebrew interpretation is “of the tree.” Elan is a variant of Elana. One Hebrew interpretation is “from the oak tree.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Elan is a variant of Ilan. An origin associated with Ilan is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1963. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Elan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,331
- 3,533 boys · 798 girls
- Most popular year
- 2012
- 153 babies
- 2025
- 59
- #2,490 for boys · #15,556 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 90% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 54 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,490 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 38.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 136 in 2011. It also appeared in 5 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California and Florida shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (8 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,834 as a first name in 2020; 280 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.
Elan’s family of names
Elan has a related form in Elana. In English usage, Elan has a related form in Ilan. In English usage, Elan has a related form in Elon.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Elan
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arjun
Arjun is used as a given name and a surname. One Sanskrit interpretation is “white: the colour of dawn, lightning, milk, and silver.”
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Jaden
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97% boys · 3% girls
Colwyn
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Elyan
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96% boys · 4% girls
Kaidan
“a beloved companion”
96% boys · 4% girls
Rylan
“from the place where rye is grown”
78% boys · 22% girls
Ieuan
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Weylan
>99% boys