How to say it
JOO · lee · un
ˈdʒu.li.ən
Masculine
Julian
Youthful, or 'of the Julii'
What it means
From the Latin Iulianus, derived from the Roman family name Iulius (Julius). The root is contested: possibly 'youthful' (from iuvenis) or just 'belonging to the gens Iulia,' Caesar's family.
The Roman emperor Julian the Apostate (4th century) and several Christian saints carried the name forward. Spanish Julián is widely used across Latin America and one of the more common English-Spanish parallel names in US Latino communities. The English Julian surged starting in the 2000s and now sits in the US top fifty for boys. The companion feminine forms (Juliana, Julianne, Julia) ride a parallel curve. Common short form: Jules.
How to spell Julian
The standard spelling is Julian. Common variants include Julián, Julien, Giuliano, Julianus, but Julian is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #25 in 2025, currently #25 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Jules is the natural short, and it works through every age.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Julian the Hospitaller Medieval saint and patron of travelers
- Julian Casablancas Lead singer of The Strokes
Spelling variants
- Julián
- Julien
- Giuliano
- Julianus
Names with the same feeling
See Julian from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Julian mean?
- From the Latin Iulianus, derived from the Roman family name Iulius (Julius). The root is contested: possibly 'youthful' (from iuvenis) or just 'belonging to the gens Iulia,' Caesar's family.
- What does Julian mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Julian means "Youthful, or 'of the Julii'." The Roman emperor Julian the Apostate (4th century) and several Christian saints carried the name forward. Spanish Julián is widely used across Latin America and one of the more common English-Spanish parallel names in US Latino communities. The English Julian surged starting in the 2000s and now sits in the US top fifty for boys. The companion feminine forms (Juliana, Julianne, Julia) ride a parallel curve. Common short form: Jules.
- How do you pronounce Julian?
- Julian is pronounced ˈdʒu.li.ən. Say it as JOO-lee-un, with the stress on the "joo" syllable.
- How do you spell Julian?
- The standard spelling is Julian. Common spelling variants include Julián, Julien, Giuliano, Julianus.
- Is Julian a boy or girl name?
- Julian is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Julian?
- Julian ranked #25 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.