Dylan is a highly popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #38 in 2016 with 1,784 recorded births. This places Dylan in the top 1% of ranked UK boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Popular. The name reached its all-time peak in 2008 with 3,373 births ranking #17. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 50.4%. In 2016, approximately 1 in every 186 boys born was named Dylan. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Dylan is a Welsh name strongly associated with the sea and often explained as "son of the sea" or "sea-born". It has been one of the most successful mythological names to become a mainstream modern favourite.
The name comes from Welsh legend, where Dylan is a sea-linked figure. It later spread far beyond Wales and became one of the defining boys' names of the late twentieth century.