Elan
Boy name · #2491 in 2025 · Very rare
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: 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?
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
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: 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.