Julian
Boy name · #25 in 2025 · Uniqueness 36/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Julian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Julian in class?
Julian scores 36 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Julian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Julian is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Julians were CA (1,680), TX (1,115), FL (437), NY (398), IL (314). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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, Damian, Adrian, Jackson, and Ethan.
SebastianDamianAdrianJacksonEthanOwenNolanJosiah
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
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. It scores 36/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.