Boy · Latin · International · Christian
Julian
JulianSay it JOO-lee-un
- Meaning today
- Youthful, downy-bearded
- Original meaning
- "of Julius; belonging to Julius (Caesar) and his family" Gaffiot
- Say it
- JOO-lee-un
- Other spellings
- Julien, Julián
Julian
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Julian meaning
Julian is an international and Christian boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning today
Youthful, downy-bearded
Original Latin meaning
"of Julius; belonging to Julius (Caesar) and his family"
Source: Gaffiot, Dictionnaire latin-français (2016 edition), via Logeion · entry Jūlĭānus · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Julian comes from Latin Iulianus, an adjective made from Iulius, the family name of Julius Caesar. Gaffiot's Latin dictionary glosses it 'of Julius', and in the plural it was used for Caesar's soldiers and supporters. As a personal name it was carried by the emperor Julian, who ruled from 361 to 363, by the jurist Salvius Julianus and by several saints. Baby-name lists usually give 'youthful'. The origin of Iulius itself is uncertain, so that reading is a guess rather than the word's recorded sense. Julian is said JOO-lee-un and fits easily with Indian surnames.
References: Logeion, Julianus (Gaffiot and biographical entries) · Wikipedia, Julian of Norwich
Famous namesakes
- Julian, Roman emperor (361–363)
- Julian of Norwich, English mystic and writer
Popularity abroad
- #25 United States, boys 2025 (up 5 from 30 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #314 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Julian · Julien · Julián