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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ilian

Ilian

♂ Boy

Pronounced IL-ee-ən /ˈɪl.i.ən/Medium

Meaning: Bulgarian form (Iliyan) of Elijah via Ilia, 'my God is Yahweh'; also brushing Spanish Ilián and the Trojan IliumMedium

In 30 seconds: Elijah on the Black Sea: Ilian is the Bulgarian Iliyan, the fiery prophet's name in Slavic dress — with a faint Homeric shimmer of Ilium, Troy's other name, for classics lovers.
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Origin MediumBulgarian, Hebrew
MeaningBulgarian form (Iliyan) of Elijah via Ilia, 'my God is Yahweh'; also brushing Spanish Ilián and the Trojan Ilium
U.S. rank (2025)#2404 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births57 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 320

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520012025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ilian (Bulgarian Iliyan) extends Ilia, the Slavic Elijah — Hebrew Eliyyahu, 'my God is Yahweh' — through the -an suffix beloved in Balkan naming. Spanish-speaking countries know a parallel Ilián, and the sound incidentally echoes Ilium, Homer's Troy.

In the U.S. the name is rare, arriving with Bulgarian and Latino families and with parents seeking an Elijah alternative without the crowd. Smooth, soft-spoken, and prophet-deep.

Did you know? In Bulgaria the prophet Elijah is St. Iliya, whose summer feast (Ilinden) named a famous 1903 uprising — this name family carries national history, not just scripture.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name — Iliyan — Bulgarian form

Variations

IliyanIliaIlyan

Nicknames

Ili

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ilian…

Elian— the Spanish sound-cousin Americans recognize
Elias— the Greek-rooted Elijah gateway
Ilias— the Greek form bridging both worlds
Jonatan— shares Ilian's Hebrew roots
Yonatan— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Ilian

By themebiblicalslavicbulgarian
By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ilian mean?

Ilian is a Bulgarian form of Elijah via Ilia, meaning 'my God is Yahweh'.

How do you pronounce Ilian?

It's said IL-ee-ən /ˈɪl.i.ən/ — three syllables, stress on the first; ee-lee-AHN is heard in Slavic and Spanish use.

Is Ilian a boy or girl name?

Ilian is a boy's name; Iliana is a feminine counterpart.

How popular is Ilian?

Ilian is a rare name in the U.S.

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