Elan
Boy name · #2491 in 2025 · Uniqueness 82/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Elan scores 82 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Elan is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elans were CA (8), FL (8), NY (7), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 82/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.