UK name, mostly boys
Dilan
A masculine Turkish name meaning "lover, beloved, or heart's desire".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dilan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Dilan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1076, with 27 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 56 births.
This profile covers 1,010 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 48% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,009 living people in the UK are called Dilan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dilan ranked #1076 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 27 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 56 boys were registered as Dilan.
- • Dilan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #701 in 2019.
- • About 1,009 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dilan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 84.2% of Dilan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1076
2024
Births in 2024
27
Latest year
Peak year
2012
56 births
Estimated living
1,009
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Dilan
In England and Wales birth records, Dilan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 84.2% of registrations are for boys and 15.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Dilan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,076 in 2024
- 27 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2012 (56 births)
Dilan registered for girls
- Ranked #4,709 in 2023
- 4 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2004 (18 births)
Meaning
What does Dilan mean?
The name Dilan is believed to have originated from the Turkish language, with roots dating back to the Ottoman Empire and the broader regions of Anatolia and the Middle East. It is derived from the Persian word "dil," which means "heart" or "soul," combined with the Turkish suffix "-an," indicating a possessive form.
In ancient Turkish literature, the word "dilan" was often used as a poetic metaphor to describe someone with a kind, compassionate, and loving heart. It carried connotations of warmth, affection, and emotional depth. The earliest records of the name Dilan can be traced back to the 15th century, when it started appearing in various manuscripts and historical documents.
One of the earliest known references to the name Dilan can be found in the works of the renowned Turkish poet and mystic, Yunus Emre (1240-1320 CE). His poetry often celebrated the virtues of love, compassion, and spiritual enlightenment, making the name Dilan a fitting representation of these ideals.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dilan. One such figure was Dilan Süleyman (1530-1600 CE), a skilled calligrapher and artist who served in the court of the Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. His intricate calligraphic works adorned many mosques and palaces of the time.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Dilan Rumi (1207-1273 CE), a celebrated Persian poet and Sufi mystic. Although his given name was Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, he was often referred to as "Dilan" by his followers, reflecting his profound wisdom and ability to touch the hearts of those around him.
In more recent times, Dilan Deniz (1923-2008) was a renowned Turkish actress and singer who captivated audiences with her performances in numerous films and stage productions throughout the 20th century.
Dilan Çiçek Deniz (1938-2015) was a notable Turkish author and journalist, known for her insightful writings on social issues and her advocacy for women's rights. Her literary works often explored themes of love, identity, and the human condition.
Lastly, Dilan Gwyn (1948-2005) was a Welsh-born artist and sculptor whose works were widely exhibited across Europe and the United States. Her abstract sculptures, often crafted from metal and stone, were celebrated for their unique interpretations of form and movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dilan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Dilan in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dilan, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 27 births in 2024, compared with 56 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dilan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dilan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1015 | 146 | 5 |
| 2010s | #763 | 426 | 10 |
| 2000s | #715 | 334 | 10 |
| 1990s | #646 | 104 | 4 |
Geography
Where Dilan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Dilan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Dilan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #701 in 2019.
Across the UK
Dilan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#701 in 2019
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Dilan
-
Dilan Markanday
association football player
Turkish-English association football player (born 2001)
2001-
Related
Names similar to Dilan
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dilan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dilan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dilan was ranked #1076 for boys in England and Wales, with 27 births registered.
When was Dilan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 56 babies registered as Dilan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dilan?
A masculine Turkish name meaning "lover, beloved, or heart's desire".
How many people are called Dilan in the UK?
A total of 1,010 babies have been registered as Dilan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Dilan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Dilan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #701 in 2019. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.