Dylan Boy

Popularity: #41 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DIL-an //ˈdɪlən//

Origin: Welsh; Irish

Meaning: Welsh: son of the sea; Irish: born near the sea

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Dylan has its roots in the Welsh language, derived from the elements "dy" meaning "great" or "the" and "llanw" meaning "tide" or "flow." This etymology suggests a meaning akin to "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean," reflecting the natural landscape of Wales, where rivers and the sea play a significant role in cultural identity. The name appears in early Welsh literature, particularly in the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales, where Dylan is depicted as a character associated with the sea, further solidifying its maritime connotations.

Historically, the name Dylan gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly due to the influence of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who was active in the early to mid-20th century. His works, characterized by their lyrical quality and exploration of themes such as nature and human experience, brought the name into broader cultural consciousness.

The association with Thomas, who is considered one of the most significant Welsh writers, contributed to the name's enduring appeal and recognition beyond Wales. Culturally, the name Dylan has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature, music, and film, often symbolizing a connection to nature and the sea.

It has been used in various forms of media, reinforcing its association with creativity and emotional depth. Additionally, the name has a diminutive form, "Dyl," which has been used informally, though its historical significance is less pronounced.

Overall, Dylan embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and cultural resonance, reflecting both its Welsh origins and its broader literary significance.

Famous people named Dylan

In this section, you will find notable people named Dylan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Dylan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Dylan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Dylan Thomas is a poet and writer best known for Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, Under Milk Wood, and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Dylan Baker is an actor best known for Planes Trains and Automobiles, The Good Wife, and Happiness.

Dylan O'Brien is an actor best known for Teen Wolf, The Maze Runner, and American Assassin.

Dylan McDermott is an actor best known for The Practice, American Horror Story, and Steel Magnolias.

Dylan Sprouse is an actor best known for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Suite Life on Deck, and After We Collided.

Dylan Walsh is an actor best known for Nip/Tuck, Everwood, and The Stepfather.

Fictional characters named Dylan

The following list of fictional characters named Dylan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Dylan is a fictional character from the animated series Total Drama. They are a contestant known for their laid-back attitude and strong friendship with other characters.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dylan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RyanLoganEthanLiamAidanNoah

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Dylan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

DamonDustinDorianDeclanDariusDawsonDante

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Dylan was first seen in the United States in 1953.

Dylan has ranked as high as #25 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Dylan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Dylan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Dylan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Dylan.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 6,546 6,208 338
2024 7,896 7,487 409
2023 7,525 7,074 451
2022 7,270 6,745 525
2021 7,303 6,767 536
2020 7,473 6,857 616
2019 8,284 7,555 729
2018 9,386 8,610 776
2017 10,209 9,315 894
2016 10,562 9,720 842
2015 11,113 10,298 815
2014 11,244 10,416 828
2013 10,740 10,127 613
2012 10,596 10,001 595
2011 10,390 9,792 598
2010 11,028 10,520 508
2009 11,919 11,373 546
2008 12,291 11,710 581
2007 13,231 12,811 420
2006 13,551 13,171 380
2005 14,250 13,782 468
2004 15,472 14,852 620
2003 16,275 15,703 572
2002 15,077 14,821 256
2001 16,696 16,497 199
2000 15,533 15,405 128
1999 16,110 15,981 129
1998 14,715 14,540 175
1997 13,151 12,968 183
1996 12,195 12,037 158
1995 12,265 12,091 174
1994 12,737 12,530 207
1993 12,943 12,686 257
1992 15,227 15,064 163
1991 9,879 9,763 116
1990 4,491 4,414 77
1989 2,915 2,853 62
1988 2,213 2,158 55
1987 2,034 1,997 37
1986 1,868 1,833 35
1985 1,354 1,331 23
1984 992 971 21
1983 798 777 21
1982 709 700 9
1981 750 729 21
1980 838 822 16
1979 650 639 11
1978 488 480 8
1977 535 530 5
1976 404 399 5
1975 462 454 8
1974 394 384 10
1973 282 277 5
1972 308 302 6
1971 266 257 9
1970 323 314 9
1969 237 228 9
1968 121 121 0
1967 68 63 5
1966 62 62 0
1965 47 47 0
1964 38 38 0
1963 34 34 0
1962 19 19 0
1961 33 33 0
1960 39 39 0
1959 30 30 0
1958 22 22 0
1957 11 11 0
1956 10 10 0
1955 12 12 0
1954 7 7 0
1953 5 5 0

Top States for Dylan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 1,169
15%
TX 1,100
14%
FL 764
10%
NY 554
7%
NJ 308
4%
IL 287
4%
GA 281
4%
VA 242
3%
NC 224
3%
MD 211
3%
PA 192
2%
TN 156
2%
MA 147
2%
WA 146
2%
OH 145
2%
AZ 144
2%
CO 141
2%
IN 128
2%
MI 120
2%
SC 98
1%
AL 96
1%
CT 92
1%
LA 87
1%
KY 86
1%
WI 77
1%
MO 75
1%
MN 73
1%
OK 68
1%
OR 67
1%
NV 57
1%
NE 56
1%
UT 47
1%
AR 45
1%
IA 45
1%
MS 44
1%
KS 42
1%
DE 33
0%
NM 32
0%
DC 26
0%
SD 19
0%
ID 16
0%
RI 14
0%
HI 12
0%
NH 10
0%
ND 10
0%
WV 9
0%
AK 8
0%
MT 6
0%