Julian

Youthful, downy-bearded — a boy name of Latin origin

GenderBoy
OriginLatin
MeaningYouthful, downy-bearded
PronunciationJOO-lee-un

Popularity of Julian in the United States

#25Rank in 2025
7,603Births in 2025
#25 in 2025Peak Popularity
↑ Rising10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Julian

Julian derives from the Roman name Julianus, itself from Julius, which is associated with the Greek "ioulos" meaning "downy-bearded" or youthful. The most famous ancient bearer was Julian the Apostate, the last pagan Roman Emperor. The Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, is also named from the same root. Several early saints bore the name, helping it spread throughout medieval Europe. Julian has a warm, cultured sound that crosses cultural boundaries with ease, and it has risen steadily in the modern era.

Julian Around the World

Julian is used in 3 languages worldwide, with 25+ international variants.

Languages
PolishEnglishDutch
Details

Female FormJulianna

International Variants
JulesFrench
JulioSpanish
JulienFrench
JuliánSpanish
JúlioPortuguese
GiulianoItalian
JúlíanIcelandic
GiulioItalian
JuliuszPolish
JuliãoPortuguese
JulijanSlovene
JuliàCatalan
Julianus
Giulian
Juluan
JuliaanDutch
JulianoBrazilian Portuguese
IulianRomanian
JuliānsLatvian
YulianUkrainian
XiánGalician
Julyan
XuliánGalician
Juljan
Juĺjan

Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.

Nicknames for Julian

JulesJuliJay

Famous People Named Julian

  • Julian Assange — founder of WikiLeaks
  • Julian Lennon — British musician, son of John Lennon
  • Julian of Norwich — medieval English mystic and theologian

Similar Names to Julian

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Sibling Name Ideas for Julian

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Julian mean?

Julian is a boy name of Latin origin meaning "Youthful, downy-bearded." Julian derives from the Roman name Julianus, itself from Julius, which is associated with the Greek "ioulos" meaning "downy-bearded" or youthful. The most famous ancient bearer was Julian the Apostate, the last pagan Roman Emperor.

How do you pronounce Julian?

Julian is pronounced JOO-lee-un. Common variations include Julien, Giuliano, Julio.

Is Julian a boy name?

Yes, Julian is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Jules, Juli, Jay.

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