Lycan
A name derived from the term for a werewolf or shapeshifter.
Name Census estimates that about 148 living Americans carry the first name Lycan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lycan today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lycan births was 2018 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lycan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Lycan with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
148
~ 1 in 2,315,908 Americans
Peak year
2018
19 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,067
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Lycan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lycan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 92 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Lycan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lycan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lycan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lycan
The name Lycan has its roots in ancient Greek mythology and folklore. The word "lycan" itself is derived from the Greek word "lykos," which means "wolf." It is believed that the name originated in the region of ancient Greece during the classical period.
In Greek mythology, there are numerous references to lycanthropy, the supernatural transformation of a human into a wolf. The legend of the werewolf has been present in various cultures throughout history, but the Greeks were among the first to give it a distinct name and incorporate it into their mythological tales.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lycan can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. In his work "Histories," Herodotus recounts a tale of a man named Lycan who was cursed by the gods and transformed into a wolf.
During the Middle Ages, the name Lycan remained relatively obscure, but it resurfaced in various literary works and folklore tales. One notable figure who bore the name was Lycan of Troyes, a 12th-century French poet and trouvère who wrote several poems and songs.
In the 16th century, the name gained some prominence with the publication of the book "De Praestigiis Daemonum" by the German scholar Johann Weyer. In this work, Weyer discussed the concept of lycanthropy and referenced the name Lycan in relation to werewolf legends.
Another notable figure named Lycan was Lycan of Mantua, an Italian Renaissance painter who lived in the 15th century. His works were primarily religious in nature, and he is known for his frescoes and altarpieces.
In more recent times, the name Lycan has been used sparingly but has gained popularity in certain circles due to its association with werewolf mythology and fantasy literature. One notable example is the character of Lucian Lycan from the "Underworld" film series, played by actor Michael Sheen.
While the name Lycan has a rich historical and mythological background, it remains relatively uncommon as a given name. However, its unique origins and ties to ancient folklore continue to capture the imagination of those fascinated by the supernatural and the legends of werewolves.
People
Lycan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lycan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lycan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lycan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 148 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lycan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,315,908 US residents.
Is Lycan a common name?
We classify Lycan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 149 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lycan most popular?
The single biggest year for Lycan was 2018, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lycan is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Lycan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lycan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lycan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Lycan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lycan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Lycan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Lycan?
See how many people share the name Lycan on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.