Given name & surname

Julia

“one who is youthful; daughter of the sky”

Julia is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “one who is youthful; daughter of the sky.”

Original LatinIulia

Meaning & origin

What it means

One Latin interpretation is “one who is youthful; daughter of the sky.”

Where it comes from

An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.

How it developed

In Latin usage, Julia is a feminine form of Julius.

The story

The name’s historical associations include numerous early saints.

Julia through the years

Babies since 1880
477,993
1,743 boys · 476,250 girls
Most popular year
2001
8,849 babies
2025
2,172
#131 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
−20%
Easing
02,5005,0007,50010K18801900192019401960198020002025Highest share 18801,351
Julia in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1880–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inMassachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Massachusetts (71), Connecticut (29), Illinois (104), Louisiana (35), New Jersey (74).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 2,172 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 131 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 8,838 in 2001. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (253). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 349,781 as a first name in 2020; 844 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.

Julia’s family of names

In English usage, Julia has a diminutive in Julie. In Latin usage, Julia is a feminine form of Julius. Julia has a related form in Juliana.

Walk Julia’s family in the name graph

Around the world

Julia has relatives in 36 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.

HawaiianEnglishFrenchNorwegian BokmålGermanLatinPolishCebuanoMāori

Latinwhere Julia comes from · 2 names

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Dots on the border stand for languages further away. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Spellings & scripts 4

The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.

See also 1

Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.

Similar names

If you love Julia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Greek · Timeless

Lydia

“woman from Lydia” · “a beautiful woman from Lydia”

77CommonEasing

>99% girls

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Rebecca

“enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”

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Victoria

“victory”

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“rival”

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Priscilla

“from an ancient family” · “ancient”

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>99% girls

Latin · Timeless

Nathalie

In German use, Nathalie is a variant of Natalie. One Latin interpretation is “born on Christmas Day; refers to Christ's birthday.”

43UncommonCooling

>99% girls

Latin · Nature

Antonia

“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”

46UncommonSteady

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Julia’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Julia

A sister for Julia