Julian first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Julian has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Julian

A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "youthful" or "related to the Roman ruler Julius Caesar".

Popularity of Julian by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Julian is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Julian being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7,078 male babies and 20 female babies born with the name Julian.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 20 baby girls were named Julian in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7,078 20
2022 7,268 27
2021 7,666 30
2020 7,543 34
2019 8,433 32
2018 8,361 35
2017 8,445 22
2016 8,384 45
2015 8,057 26
2014 7,682 31
2013 7,515 41
2012 7,387 38
2011 7,625 35
2010 7,586 54
2009 7,384 47
2008 7,466 63
2007 6,780 68
2006 6,796 69
2005 6,115 78
2004 5,672 69
2003 5,410 64
2002 5,223 74
2001 4,943 84
2000 4,589 104
1999 3,218 78
1998 3,053 84
1997 2,911 81
1996 2,857 68
1995 2,702 58
1994 2,504 49
1993 2,490 60
1992 2,547 61
1991 2,690 54
1990 2,699 69
1989 2,212 62
1988 1,672 61
1987 1,492 57
1986 1,544 53
1985 1,528 48
1984 938 40
1983 933 38
1982 993 51
1981 869 37
1980 753 30
1979 663 15
1978 644 19
1977 745 20
1976 735 18
1975 746 14
1974 650 17

The history of the first name Julian

The name Julian has its origins in the late Roman Empire, derived from the ancient Roman family name Julianus. This name traces its roots back to the gens Iulia, one of the most prominent patrician families in ancient Rome, which claimed descent from the mythological hero Iulus, son of Aeneas.

The name gained widespread recognition and popularity due to its association with several notable Roman emperors who bore the name, including Julian the Apostate (331-363 AD), who ruled during the Constantinian dynasty. Julian the Apostate is remembered for his attempts to revive traditional Roman religious practices and his opposition to Christianity, which had become the dominant religion in the empire.

Another historically significant figure bearing the name Julian was Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), an English anchoress and mystic who wrote the influential theological work "Revelations of Divine Love." Her writings, which explored themes of God's love and the nature of sin and salvation, had a profound impact on the development of Christian mysticism in England.

In the 6th century, Julian of Toledo (642-690) was a prominent Visigothic bishop and theologian who played a significant role in the conversion of the Visigothic Kingdom to Catholicism. His works, including treatises on the Trinity and Christology, were highly influential in shaping the theological discourse of the time.

During the Renaissance, Julian Cesarini (1398-1444) was a prominent Italian cardinal and diplomat who played a key role in organizing the Council of Basel, which sought to resolve the Western Schism and address issues of church reform. He was also a vocal advocate for the crusade against the Ottoman Turks.

In more recent history, Julian Assange (born 1971) is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist, best known as the founder of the whistleblower website WikiLeaks. His involvement in publishing classified government documents, particularly those related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, has made him a controversial figure in the realm of information transparency and national security.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Julian throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from theology and mysticism to politics and activism. The enduring popularity of this name can be attributed to its rich historical lineage and its association with prominent figures across different eras.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Julian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Julian, please contact us.

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"Julian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/julian-meaning-and-history/.

"Julian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/julian-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Julian first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/julian-meaning-and-history/.

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