boys' name · peaked 2017

Julian

Ultimately from Latin Iūliānus.

Every Julian since 1880 — 268,291 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
1.252.53.75518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#25
among boys
Babies in 2025
7,626
named Julian
Peak year
2017
8,477 babies
All-time total
268,291
since 1880

The story of Julian

Julian is a top-50 name for boys in the United States, ranked #25 in 2025 with 7,603 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 268,291 American babies have been named Julian. Its peak came in 2017, when 8,477 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Julian stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Julian year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 23 #5,477 7,603 #25
2024 18 #6,515 7,390 #30
2023 20 #6,057 7,097 #33
2022 29 #4,721 7,305 #35
2021 30 #4,554 7,693 #33
2020 34 #4,114 7,552 #34
2019 32 #4,390 8,443 #31
2018 35 #4,111 8,368 #36
2017 22 #5,737 8,455 #37
2016 45 #3,489 8,388 #39
2015 26 #5,204 8,064 #45
2014 31 #4,597 7,686 #47
2013 41 #3,740 7,521 #47
2012 38 #4,020 7,389 #53
2011 35 #4,189 7,627 #50
2010 54 #3,094 7,589 #53
2009 47 #3,485 7,388 #62
2008 63 #2,840 7,469 #61
2007 68 #2,696 6,781 #66
2006 69 #2,614 6,797 #65
2005 78 #2,302 6,116 #74
2004 69 #2,462 5,673 #74
2003 64 #2,536 5,410 #77
2002 74 #2,237 5,223 #78
2001 84 #2,022 4,944 #82
2000 104 #1,696 4,590 #87
1995 58 #2,295 2,703 #132
1990 69 #1,979 2,700 #123
1985 48 #2,191 1,529 #174
1980 30 #2,953 753 #280
1975 14 #4,441 744 #262
1970 12 #4,611 634 #309
1965 9 #4,638 461 #353
1960 8 #4,950 492 #352
1955 9 #4,214 470 #339
1950 12 #3,149 505 #302
1945 15 #2,284 462 #280
1940 7 #3,674 510 #238
1935 7 #3,583 497 #235
1930 17 #2,066 592 #219
1925 23 #1,820 716 #195
1920 20 #1,985 693 #195
1915 13 #2,315 579 #191
1910 5 #2,593 129 #201
1905 78 #216
1900 7 #1,650 79 #226
1895 55 #240
1890 8 #1,054 63 #209
1885 49 #236
1880 32 #296

Famous people named Julian

  1. Julian Politician · 331–363
  2. Julian Assange Journalist · b. 1971
  3. Julian Huxley Biologist · 1887–1975
  4. Julian Barnes Writer · b. 1946
  5. Julian Schwinger Physicist · 1918–1994

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Julian mean?

Ultimately from Latin Iūliānus.

How popular is the name Julian in 2025?

Julian ranked #25 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7,603 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Julian?

268,291 babies have been named Julian in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Julian most popular?

Julian peaked in 2017, when 8,477 newborns received the name.

Is Julian a boy or girl name?

Julian is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Julian rising or falling?

Julian has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Julian?

Well-known people named Julian include Julian (politician), Julian Assange (journalist), Julian Huxley (biologist).

Names like Julian

Compare Julian with similar names →