Julian: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, & Inspiration

Boy name origins & meanings

Latin : Youthful
English : Love's child

What does Julian mean and stand for?

The name Julian is of English, Latin origin and means "youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father." The origin is shrouded in history, but possible roots including the Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning “downy-bearded”; or Jovis, meaning "sky father"

Syllables: 3

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English (common in Devon and Cornwall), Spanish (Julián), and German : from a personal name, Latin Iulianus, a derivative of Iulius (see Julius), which was borne by a number of early saints. In Middle English the name was borne in the same form by women, whence the modern girl’s name Gillian.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, Julian has been consistently popular, remaining in the top 50 since 2013, and in the top 100 since 2000.

However, it is the 55th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Isabella was at its peak popularity in February 2019.

Julian, originally derived from the Roman name Julius, gained popularity in Medieval England and was even used as a unisex name. Popular people with the name include Julian, a 4th century Roman emperor and St. Julian the Hospitaller, the patron saint of travelers. More modern celebrities with the name include: Julian Bond, Julian Lennon (singer), Julian Barnes (novelist), and Julian Schnabel (painter/filmmaker).