UK boy's name
Jolan
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jolan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jolan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 22 births.
This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Jolan. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jolan ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 22 boys were registered as Jolan.
- • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jolan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
22 births
Estimated living
39
2026
Meaning
What does Jolan mean?
The name Jolan is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the region of present-day Poland and the Czech Republic. It is derived from the Slavic root "yol," which means "fir" or "pine tree." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with forestry, nature, or perhaps a person living near or working with pine trees.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jolan can be found in medieval Polish historical records dating back to the 13th century. It was a relatively uncommon name during that time period but gained some popularity among the nobility and landed gentry in the region.
In the 16th century, a Polish nobleman named Jolan Zamoyski (1542-1605) rose to prominence as a statesman, military leader, and one of the most influential figures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. His legacy likely contributed to the further dissemination of the name throughout the region.
Another notable historical figure with the name Jolan was Jolan Kodály (1882-1967), a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, and educator. He is best known for his work in promoting and preserving traditional Hungarian folk music, as well as his innovative teaching methods in music education.
In the 20th century, Jolan Tsvetkov (1892-1962) was a Bulgarian architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the development of modern architecture and urban design in his home country. His most notable works include the design of the University of Sofia's main building and the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
The name Jolan also appears in literary works, such as the character Jolan Trill in the science fiction novel "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 1974. This fictional character was an astronomer and physicist from the planet Anarres.
While the name Jolan is not as common as some other Slavic names, it has persisted throughout history and has been carried by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, including Polish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, and even in works of fiction.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jolan over time
The chart below shows babies named Jolan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jolan, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 22 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jolan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jolan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3326 | 29 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3595 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jolan
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jolan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jolan in the UK right now?
In 2018, Jolan was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jolan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 22 babies registered as Jolan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jolan?
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious".
How many people are called Jolan in the UK?
A total of 39 babies have been registered as Jolan across the 6 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.