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Dillon

♂ Boy

Pronounced DIL-un /ˈdɪl.ən/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Dylan, from Welsh dy (great, large) and llanw (tide, sea); or from Irish Gaelic Dillon, an anglicised form of the Norman surname de Leon meaning of the lion; meaning sea or great tide, or lion-likeHigh

In 30 seconds: Dillon is a variant of Dylan meaning great sea or great tide from Welsh, also shaped by the Irish Norman surname de Leon (of the lion), that has been a steady American boys name offering a distinctive spelling of the popular Dylan.
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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Welsh
MeaningVariant spelling of Dylan, from Welsh dy (great, large) and llanw (tide, sea); or from Irish Gaelic Dillon, an anglicised form of the Norman surname de Leon meaning of the lion; meaning sea or great tide, or lion-like
U.S. rank (2025)#930 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births253 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1992
Total births (all-time)≈ 65,217

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199218922025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Dillon is most directly a variant spelling of Dylan, from Welsh dy (great, large, or the intensifying prefix) and llanw (tide, sea, flood), meaning great tide or child of the sea. Separately, Dillon exists as an Irish surname — anglicised from Norman French de Leon (of the lion or from Leon in Brittany) — which came to Ireland with the Norman invaders in the 12th century and became one of Ireland's Fourteen Tribes of Galway. These two origins have merged in American naming.

Dillon has been in consistent American use since at least the 1970s, running parallel to the more popular Dylan. Parents who choose Dillon often prefer the -on ending for visual or personal reasons. The name is associated with the American West through Marshal Dillon of the TV series Gunsmoke (1955–1975), one of the longest-running Western dramas in American television history. In the 21st century Dillon maintains a solid presence in U.S. birth records, offering a slightly more distinctive alternative to Dylan.

Did you know? The surname Dillon in Ireland derives from the Norman family de Leon who came with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century — making Dillon an Irish surname that preserves a memory of the Norman Conquest of England and its knock-on effect across the British Isles.
Overall data confidence 83%
Behind the Name — Dillon — Welsh and Irish origins

Variations

DylanDyllonDylen

Nicknames

Dill

Famous Bearers

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If you like Dillon…

Dylan— the Welsh form of the same name with identical pronunciation and meaning
Declan— Irish boys name with the same Celtic heritage and two-syllable flow
Kieran— two-syllable Irish-origin boys name with a comparable Celtic character
Cillian— two-syllable Irish boys name with the same Celtic depth and contemporary appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dillon mean?

Dillon is a variant of Dylan, from Welsh meaning great tide or sea; it also connects to the Irish Norman surname de Leon meaning of the lion.

How do you pronounce Dillon?

It is said DIL-un — two syllables, stress on the first. Identical to Dylan.

Is Dillon the same as Dylan?

They are the same name with different spellings; Dillon uses a different vowel ending than Dylan.

Is Dillon a popular name?

Dillon is a steady presence in U.S. birth records, though less common than the Dylan spelling.