
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Julian
Julian comes from the Roman name Julianus which is of Latin origin. The name, derived from the Roman emperor Julian of the 4th century, means ‘youthful,’ ‘bright,’ and ‘juvenile.’ From the Latin iuvenis, it could also mean ‘downy bearded.’ In French, the name spelled Julien is a surname or family name.
Julian was a Roman emperor, and a famous philosopher/author remembered for his rejection of Christianity. He tried to reinstate Neoplatonic Hellenism by promoting them, thereby earning the title of Julian the Apostate. Early saints like Saint Julian, the patron of the cities of Macerata and Ghent, carried this moniker. The name became popular in England during the Middle Ages with its feminine counterpart Juliana that eventually became Gillian.
Julyan and Jolyon are the two common variants in English, while Lian (German), Julek (Polish), and Jules, Jools (English) are the diminutives. In addition, the name has popular feminine forms like Juliane, Juliana (German), Julianna (Polish), and Jillian, Gillian, Julianne, Gill, and Jill in English. Furthermore, it had variations in other languages like Juliano (Portuguese), Iulian (Romanian), Xián (Galician), Julen (Basque), Iulianus (Ancient Roman), Giuliano (Italian), Julien (French), and Julián (Spanish). Some nicknames for Julian are Jule, Jay, and Jude.
In fiction, Julian Sark is a character from the TV series ‘Alias’ played by David Anders. He is a man with good taste in wines and malleable loyalties that aids him in evading and escaping from difficult situations. King Julien XIII is a recurring fictional animated character from the Madagascar franchise. He is a lemur who rules the Kingdom of Madagascar.
Julian Andrew Baker is a fictional character from the TV series ‘One Tree Hill,’ played by Austin Nichols. He is a director and producer by profession and was neglected and never appreciated by his father. Julian ‘Jules’ is a main recurring character from the TV series ‘Trailer Park Boys,’ portrayed by John Paul Tremblay.
How To Pronounce Julian?
Famous People With The Name Julian
- Julian HodgsonBritish chess player and a former British chess champion
- Julian DraxlerGerman soccer player and winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
- Julian BlackmonAmerican footballer playing for Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League
- Julian SchwingerAmerican theoretical physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize for his work on Quantum Electrodynamics
- Julian EdelmanAmerican former football player known for his stints with the New England Patriots in the National Football League
Julian On The Popularity Chart
According to the data released by the Social Security Administration, the name Julian has improved its ranking over the last two decades. Let us study the chart to learn its performance over the years.
Popularity Over Time
It can be seen that a low of 753 babies per million in 1980 are the bearers of the name Julian. It has grown to a phenomenal 7629 babies per million sharing the title in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The ranking of Julian has gone down over time and occupies the 17577th rank on the chart as of 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Julian
There are many popular variations of the name Julian and if you want a name that sounds the same, here are some suggestions.
Names With Similar Meaning As Julian
If you want a name that has the same meaning as Julian. Below are some options.
Name Numerology For Julian


