Julian
Boy name · #25 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Julian? In official American birth records, Julian has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Julian is currently the #25 boy name in the United States — 7,603 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #45, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 237 boys born in 2025 was named Julian.
The 145-year story
Julian first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 32 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 8,455 boys were named Julian — good for #37 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.
Babies named Julian per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Julian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Julian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Julian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Julian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Julian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Julian is most common in DC (11 per 1,000), RI (9.9 per 1,000), CA (9.6 per 1,000), NV (7.9 per 1,000), MA (7.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 5.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Julian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Julian
Statistically, parents drawn to Julian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sebastian, Adrian, Jackson, Ethan, and Owen.
SebastianAdrianJacksonEthanOwenNolanJosiahRoman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Julian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,603 | #25 |
| 2024 | 7,390 | #30 |
| 2023 | 7,097 | #33 |
| 2022 | 7,305 | #35 |
| 2021 | 7,693 | #33 |
| 2020 | 7,552 | #34 |
| 2019 | 8,443 | #31 |
| 2018 | 8,368 | #36 |
| 2017 | 8,455 | #37 |
| 2016 | 8,388 | #39 |
| 2015 | 8,064 | #45 |
| 2014 | 7,686 | #47 |
| 2013 | 7,521 | #47 |
| 2012 | 7,389 | #53 |
| 2011 | 7,627 | #50 |
| 2010 | 7,589 | #53 |
| 2009 | 7,388 | #62 |
| 2008 | 7,469 | #61 |
| 2007 | 6,781 | #66 |
| 2006 | 6,797 | #65 |
| 2005 | 6,116 | #74 |
| 2004 | 5,673 | #74 |
| 2003 | 5,410 | #77 |
| 2002 | 5,223 | #78 |
| 2001 | 4,944 | #82 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Julian?
In official American birth records, the name Julian first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 32 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Julian a popular boy name?
Julian ranked #25 among boys in 2025 with 7,603 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #45.
When was the name Julian most popular?
Julian peaked in 2017, when 8,455 American boys received the name (ranked #37 that year). Since 2017 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Julian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 237 newborn American boys was named Julian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.