Julian
JOO-lee-un /ˈdʒuː.li.ən/
Meaning of Julian
Julian is the English form of Julianus, a Latin adjective meaning 'of the gens Julia' — the ancient Roman family that included Julius Caesar. The root word iulus is connected to the Greek ioulos ('downy-bearded'), evoking youth. The name was borne by Julian of Norwich (1342–c.1416), the English mystic and author of the first book known to be written by a woman in English.
Current popularity of Julian
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #25 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #13 |
Notable bearers of Julian
Julian of Norwich (mystic, 1342–c.1416); Emperor Julian ('the Apostate'); Julian Assange.
Similar names & variants
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Sibling-name suggestions
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About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31