UK boy's name
Ilan
A Hebrew name meaning "tree" or "oak tree".
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.
Ilan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ilan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 22 births.
This profile covers 279 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 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 82% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 277 living people in the UK are called Ilan. 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
- • Ilan ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 22 boys were registered as Ilan.
- • About 277 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ilan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1460
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2022
22 births
Estimated living
277
2026
Meaning
What does Ilan mean?
The name Ilan has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "ayil," which means "ram" or "strength." In biblical Hebrew, the word "ayil" was often used as a symbol of power, virility, and leadership.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ilan can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it appears as a place name. The Book of Samuel mentions a location called "Elon," which is believed to be related to the name Ilan. This suggests that the name was already in use during the time of the biblical narrative, which dates back to around the 6th century BCE.
Throughout history, the name Ilan has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Ilan ben Yaakov, a Jewish scholar who lived in the 12th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of the Talmud and Jewish law.
In the 13th century, Ilan ben Eliezer was a prominent French Tosafist, a commentator on the Talmud. His work helped shape the understanding and interpretation of Jewish legal texts during that era.
During the Renaissance period, Ilan Loeb was a prominent Jewish scholar and physician in Italy. Born in the late 15th century, he was known for his expertise in medicine and his contributions to the study of Hebrew literature.
In more recent times, Ilan Ramon was an Israeli astronaut and fighter pilot. Born in 1954, he tragically lost his life in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, but his legacy as the first Israeli in space continues to inspire.
Another notable figure with the name Ilan is Ilan Pappé, an Israeli historian and scholar born in 1954. He is known for his controversial work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his advocacy for a one-state solution.
While the name Ilan has its roots in ancient Hebrew, it has since spread to various cultures and languages. Its association with strength, leadership, and power has made it a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and culturally significant name for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ilan over time
The chart below shows babies named Ilan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Ilan, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 22 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ilan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ilan 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 | #1701 | 77 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2039 | 116 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2237 | 69 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1941 | 17 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ilan
- Isaac 49,129
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
FAQ
Ilan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ilan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ilan was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Ilan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 22 babies registered as Ilan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ilan?
A Hebrew name meaning "tree" or "oak tree".
How many people are called Ilan in the UK?
A total of 279 babies have been registered as Ilan across the 28 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.