Dylan

♂ Boy

Pronounced DIL-un /ˈdɪl.ən/High

Meaning: Son of the sea; born from the ocean waveHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Welsh for 'son of the sea,' Dylan is a figure from Welsh mythology whose birth caused a great wave. The name gained global fame through singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.

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Origin HighWelsh

MeaningSon of the sea; born from the ocean wave

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 361,125

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Dylan comes from the Welsh dylanw (tidal wave, the sea) and ton (wave), so Dylan Eil Ton means 'son of the wave' or 'son of the sea.' He is a figure in Welsh mythology (in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi), associated with the sea and with uncanny natural ability.

Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, 1941–), who took his stage name from the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), gave the name enormous cultural visibility from the 1960s onward. Dylan entered the U.S. top 30 boys' names in the 1990s and has ranked in the top 40 since.

Did you know? In the Welsh Mabinogion, Dylan Eil Ton ('Dylan, son of the wave') was a divine figure who at baptism rushed into the sea and swam as well as the best fish — the sea immediately claimed him as one of its own.

Variations

DillanDillonDyllan

Nicknames

DylDilly

Famous Bearers

★Bob Dylan (1941–)
American singer-songwriter, Nobel Prize in Literature winner who took his name from Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
★Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
Welsh poet and writer, known for Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.

If you like Dylan…

Finn— shares the Celtic maritime/mythological heritage

Liam— fellow Irish/Celtic boys' name at the top of global charts

Owen— another Welsh Celtic classic with modern appeal

Callum— Scottish Celtic with the same clean, strong sound

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dylan mean?

Dylan comes from the Welsh, meaning 'son of the sea' or 'son of the wave,' from the mythological figure Dylan Eil Ton who at birth rushed into the sea.

How do you pronounce Dylan?

Dylan is said DIL-un /ˈdɪl.ən/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Dylan a boy or girl name?

Dylan is primarily a boy's name but has been used for girls as well, making it genuinely unisex in modern usage.

How popular is Dylan?

Dylan has ranked in the U.S. top 40 boys' names since the late 1990s, boosted by the cultural legacy of Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas.