Mostly boys
Aiden
Irish
“little and fiery”
Mostly boys · Welsh
Dylan
“son of the sea”
Say it DIL-uhnPronunciation may vary by region.
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A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Meet Dylan.
Dylan is a Welsh name connected with the sea and traditionally interpreted as son of the sea. Welsh mythology gives it an additional association with a figure whose story is tied to the waters.
The poet Dylan Thomas is another important namesake. Dylan combines a nature-related meaning with a literary connection, and its two-syllable English pronunciation works without needing a shortened form.
5 lettersWelsh origins ↗
A little perspective
How popular is Dylan?
Girls · 2025#808338 recorded births
Boys · 2025#416,208 recorded births
Recorded US births over time
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 41 | 6,208 |
| 2025 | Girls | 808 | 338 |
| 2024 | Boys | 28 | 7,487 |
| 2024 | Girls | 694 | 409 |
| 2023 | Boys | 34 | 7,074 |
| 2023 | Girls | 651 | 451 |
| 2022 | Boys | 42 | 6,745 |
| 2022 | Girls | 572 | 525 |
| 2021 | Boys | 44 | 6,767 |
| 2021 | Girls | 567 | 536 |
| 2020 | Boys | 42 | 6,857 |
| 2020 | Girls | 497 | 616 |
| 2019 | Boys | 39 | 7,555 |
| 2019 | Girls | 436 | 729 |
| 2018 | Boys | 31 | 8,610 |
| 2018 | Girls | 398 | 776 |
| 2017 | Boys | 29 | 9,315 |
| 2017 | Girls | 354 | 894 |
| 2016 | Boys | 32 | 9,720 |
| 2016 | Girls | 394 | 842 |
| 2015 | Boys | 27 | 10,298 |
| 2015 | Girls | 399 | 815 |
| 2014 | Boys | 29 | 10,416 |
| 2014 | Girls | 394 | 828 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
A few ways to make it theirs.
Nicknames
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Variations & related forms
DillonDillan
Keep the possibilities coming
If you love Dylan…
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.