NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Emilian

A Latin name derived from the Roman family name Aemilius.

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.

Emilian is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Emilian popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 12 births.

This profile covers 105 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2009 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 104 living people in the UK are called Emilian. 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

  • Emilian ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 12 boys were registered as Emilian.
  • About 104 living people in the UK are estimated to have Emilian as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2015

12 births

Estimated living

104

2026

Meaning

What does Emilian mean?

The name Emilian has its roots in the Latin language and culture, dating back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "aemulus," which means "rival" or "emulator." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were viewed as competitors or those who sought to emulate the qualities of others.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emilian can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned an individual named Emilianus in his work "Annals." This suggests that the name was in use during the 1st century AD in ancient Rome.

In the 3rd century AD, there was a Roman emperor named Emilianus who ruled briefly in 253 AD. He was born in Mauritania and rose through the ranks of the Roman military before seizing power. His reign was short-lived, as he was assassinated after just three months, but his existence shows that the name was prominent during that time period.

The name Emilian also has connections to early Christianity. One notable figure was Saint Emilian, a 6th century Spanish monk and founder of the Monastery of Samos in Galicia. He was known for his ascetic lifestyle and devotion to the Christian faith.

Another influential figure bearing the name Emilian was Emiliano Zapata, a Mexican revolutionary leader who played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920. He was born in 1879 and was a prominent advocate for agrarian reform and the rights of peasants and indigenous people in Mexico.

In the world of literature, Emilian Bukarevinac was a Serbian writer and journalist born in 1834. He is renowned for his contributions to Serbian literature and his efforts in promoting the Serbian language and culture.

Other notable individuals with the name Emilian include Emilian Kamiński, a Polish architect and urban planner born in 1923, who was influential in the reconstruction and development of cities in Poland after World War II.

Emilian Prunk, born in 1948, is a Slovenian composer and conductor who has made significant contributions to the classical music scene in his country and internationally.

While the name Emilian may not be as widely used today as it once was, its rich history and cultural significance across various societies and time periods highlight its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Emilian over time

The chart below shows babies named Emilian registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 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 Emilian, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Emilian
036912200920162024

Decades

Emilian by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Emilian 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 #2742 31 4
2010s #2856 70 10
2000s #3744 4 1

Related

Names similar to Emilian

FAQ

Emilian: questions and answers

How popular is the name Emilian in the UK right now?

In 2024, Emilian was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Emilian most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 12 babies registered as Emilian in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Emilian?

A Latin name derived from the Roman family name Aemilius.

How many people are called Emilian in the UK?

A total of 105 babies have been registered as Emilian across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.