Dylan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Dylan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Dylan?
Dylan is spelled D-Y-L-A-N. The name has 5 letters.
Dylan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Dylan may derive from Welsh elements related to “great” or “son” and “sea” or “ocean.”
- Origin
- Dylan is commonly associated with the Welsh language and mythology.
- Pronunciation
- DIL-an · 2 syllables
Dylan Popularity in 2025
Rank#807
Recorded Births338
Rank#41
Recorded Births6,208
- Girls usage fell 113 places to #807 and recorded 71 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 13 places to #41 and recorded 1,279 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Dylan Mean?
Dylan may derive from Welsh elements related to “great” or “son” and “sea” or “ocean.”
Origin: Dylan is commonly associated with the Welsh language and mythology.
How Do You Pronounce Dylan?
PronunciationDIL-an
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Dylan?
- History
- The name Dylan appears in Welsh mythology, notably in the medieval Welsh tale “Lludd and Llefelys.”
Dylan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 338 | #807 |
| 2025 | Boys | 6,208 | #41 |
| 2024 | Girls | 409 | #694 |
| 2024 | Boys | 7,487 | #28 |
| 2023 | Girls | 451 | #651 |
| 2023 | Boys | 7,074 | #34 |
| 2022 | Girls | 525 | #572 |
| 2022 | Boys | 6,745 | #42 |
| 2021 | Girls | 536 | #567 |
| 2021 | Boys | 6,767 | #44 |
| 2020 | Girls | 616 | #497 |
| 2020 | Boys | 6,857 | #42 |
| 2019 | Girls | 729 | #436 |
| 2019 | Boys | 7,555 | #39 |
| 2018 | Girls | 776 | #398 |
| 2018 | Boys | 8,610 | #31 |
| 2017 | Girls | 894 | #354 |
| 2017 | Boys | 9,315 | #29 |
| 2016 | Girls | 842 | #394 |
| 2016 | Boys | 9,720 | #32 |
| 2015 | Girls | 815 | #399 |
| 2015 | Boys | 10,298 | #27 |
| 2014 | Girls | 828 | #394 |
| 2014 | Boys | 10,416 | #29 |
When Was Dylan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2001 · Boys
16,497 recorded births
National rank #21
1999 · Boys
15,981 recorded births
National rank #23
2003 · Boys
15,703 recorded births
National rank #19
2000 · Boys
15,405 recorded births
National rank #24
Where Dylan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| FL | #11 | 657 |
| MD | #13 | 150 |
| NJ | #18 | 255 |
| NY | #20 | 471 |
| CA | #28 | 871 |
| TX | #28 | 833 |
| GA | #29 | 222 |
| DE | #29 | 22 |