Elan
Boy name · #2491 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elan? In official American birth records, Elan has been tracked continuously since 1963, giving it 62 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 54 baby boys were named Elan, placing it at #2491 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1453, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,333 boys born in 2025 was named Elan.
Babies named Elan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 62-year story
Elan first appears in the Social Security records in 1963, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 136 boys were named Elan — good for #1264 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elan is most common
State-level data for Elan is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Elan
Statistically, parents drawn to Elan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Keelan, Daylan, Edan, Keilan, and Calan.
KeelanDaylanEdanKeilanCalanEianEanKeylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2024 | 50 | #2637 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2244 |
| 2022 | 81 | #1917 |
| 2021 | 95 | #1710 |
| 2020 | 76 | #1922 |
| 2019 | 113 | #1507 |
| 2018 | 116 | #1489 |
| 2017 | 130 | #1365 |
| 2016 | 125 | #1399 |
| 2015 | 116 | #1453 |
| 2014 | 131 | #1329 |
| 2013 | 127 | #1340 |
| 2012 | 131 | #1308 |
| 2011 | 136 | #1264 |
| 2010 | 109 | #1492 |
| 2009 | 93 | #1688 |
| 2008 | 87 | #1736 |
| 2007 | 107 | #1488 |
| 2006 | 75 | #1823 |
| 2005 | 77 | #1725 |
| 2004 | 68 | #1815 |
| 2003 | 89 | #1466 |
| 2002 | 68 | #1708 |
| 2001 | 75 | #1591 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elan?
In official American birth records, the name Elan first appeared in 1963 (over 62 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 62 years.
Is Elan a popular boy name?
Elan ranked #2491 among boys in 2025 with 54 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1453.
When was the name Elan most popular?
Elan peaked in 2011, when 136 American boys received the name (ranked #1264 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,333 newborn American boys was named Elan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.