Dylan is a popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #67 in 2023 with 840 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2008 with 3,373 births ranking #17. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 29.2%. In 2023, approximately 1 in every 329 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.