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    The first name Dylan

    A boy’s name from Welsh meaning “son of the sea”, “born from the ocean.”.

    Pronounced /ˈdɪlən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Welsh origin

    Dylan means “son of the sea”, “born from the ocean.” in Welsh.

    From Welsh mythology; possibly from Celtic for "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean." Unrelated to the name Dillon, although the homophony may result in the two being considered variant spellings of the same name.

    More names that mean sea.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 717 boys were named Dylan, making it the 72nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 3,373 births (#17).

    02,0004,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    61,874
    babies named Dylan, 1996–2025
    #72
    rank in 2025
    2008
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dylan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Dylan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 6,208 boys born in the United States were named Dylan, the 41st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2001, when 16,497 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    434,951
    babies named Dylan since 1880
    #41
    rank in 2025
    2001
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Dylan

    83 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Dylan Minnette
      American actor and musician (born 1996)
    • Dylan O'Brien
      American actor (born 1991)
    • Jack Dylan Grazer
      American actor, born 2003
    • Dylan McDermott
      American actor, born 1961
    • Dylan Sprouse
      American actor (born 1992)
    • Dylan Walsh
      American actor (born 1963)
    • Dylan Baker
      American actor, born 1959
    • Dylan Sprayberry
      American actor, born 1998
    • Dylan Wang
      Chinese actor and singer (born 1998)
    • Dylan Teuns
      Belgian cyclist, born 1992
    • Dylan Armstrong
      Canadian shot putter, born 1981
    • Dylan Batubinsika
      DR Congolese footballer, born 1996

    More Welsh boys’ names

    All 78 names of Welsh origin

    Questions

    What does the name Dylan mean?
    Dylan means “son of the sea”, “born from the ocean.” in Welsh.
    What is the origin of the name Dylan?
    From Welsh mythology; possibly from Celtic for "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean." Unrelated to the name Dillon, although the homophony may result in the two being considered variant spellings of the same name.
    How popular is the name Dylan?
    In 2025, 717 boys born in England and Wales were named Dylan, ranking 72nd. Its peak was 2008, with 3,373 births.
    Is Dylan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 96% of the 434,951 US babies named Dylan since 1880 were boys.
    When was Dylan most popular?
    2001 in the United States, when 16,497 babies were named Dylan, its highest rank at 21st.
    How do you pronounce Dylan?
    Dylan is /ˈdɪlən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Dylan also a surname?
    Yes. Dylan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.