Julian Name Meaning: Julian is an ancient name with a rich history. Julian was originally the name of the presiding god of the Libyans. The meaning of the name Julian is “dedicated to Jupiter” or “Jovian”.
The name Julian is derived from the Latin word for Jupiter, which is “Jovis”. The name Julian was popularized by Saint Julian, a 4th-century Christian martyr. The name Julian has been used as a given name in England since the 12th century.
JOO-lee-ən, JOOL-yən, or yoo-LYAHN, Julian is currently ranked at #158 on the baby naming website Nameberry. The popularity of the name Julian has been steadily rising in recent years.
In 2016, there were 1,617 baby boys born in the United States named Julian, which was an 8% increase from 2015. If you consider naming your baby boy Julian, read more about this classic yet trendy name.
History and Origin of the name Julian
The name Julian is derived from the Latin Juliānus, which came from Julius. The nomen Julius was derived from Greek ἴουλος (ioulos), meaning “downy-bearded” or “hairy” (possibly as an epithet of the god Apollo).
It was a common name amongst early Christians and thus became associated with the Latin word for “downy-bearded” or “hairy”, Juliānus.
Julianus was also used as a translation of the Hebrew יוֹלִיאָן (Yowli’yan), which was popular among early Christians (see Acts 13:1, where it is rendered in Greek as Ιουλιανός).
The feminine form Julia derives from Juliana, which in turn came from Juliāna. This name was borne by a 4th-century saint and martyr from Nicomedia in Bithynia (modern İzmit, Turkey).
Saint Juliana was falsely accused of being a Christian by her pagan father, and she suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian. Her feast day is celebrated on February 6th.
Julian Name Meaning
The meaning of the name Julian is “dedicated to Jupiter”, referring to Jupiter (also known as Jove), the chief Roman god. Jupiter was believed to be the protector and presider over all other gods and men, so people dedicated things to him – including a boy named Julian!
Pronunciation of The Name Julian
In English, the name Julian is pronounced /ˈdʒuːlɪən/, with a stressed first syllable and an unstressed second syllable ending in -lian (-lee-an). The final -n is often dropped when speaking informally.
Famous People Named Julian
Celebrities Named Julian
Some celebrities who share the name Julian include:
- Julianne Moore, an Academy Award-winning actress
- Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks
- Julian Edelman, an NFL player for the New England Patriots
Historical Figures Named Julian
Some historical figures who have borne the name Julian include:
- Julian the Apostate, a Roman Emperor who attempted to revive paganism in the 4th century AD
- Saint Julian, a martyr who was killed during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian in the 3rd century AD
- Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century English mystic and religious writer
Fun Facts About the Name Julian
Interesting facts about the meaning of the name Julian
Did you know that the name Julian derives from the Latin Julius? Julius was the family name of the first Roman emperor, Augustus. The name Julian was used by early Christians as a code name for Jesus Christ.
The meaning of the name Julian is “youthful, downy-bearded”. It can also be translated as “Jove’s child”, referring to the Roman god Jupiter.
Julian is a popular boys’ name in many countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In 2016, it was the 34th most popular boys’ name in the US.
Trivia about famous people named Julian
Some famous people who have borne the name Julian include:
- Julian Lennon (born 1963), musician and son of Beatles member John Lennon
- Julian Assange (born 1971), Australian computer programmer and founder of WikiLeaks
- Julianna Margulies (born 1966), American actress
- Julianne Moore (born 1960), American actress
- Julianne Hough (born 1988), American dancer, singer, and actress
The name Julian has a long and interesting history. It was originally the name of the presiding god of the Libyans. The meaning of the name is believed to be “young man” or “child of Jove”.
Julian is also a popular name for celebrities and historical figures. Some fun facts about the name Julian include that it is one of the few names that can be used for both boys and girls and that it has been in use since ancient times.
