Names like Julian
Julian is a three-syllable Latin name that ends in -an. Each list below follows one of those threads on its own, so you can see exactly what the names share.
The same sound
Three syllables, ending the same way as Julian.
Adrian Latin · from Hadria
Jonathan Hebrew · "Yahweh has given," from the Hebrew Yehonatan; in the Bible the prince whose loyalty to David defined friendship. A steady Anglo-American classic for three centuries that folds warmly to Jon and Johnny without being John
Fabian Latin · from Fabius, traditionally "bean grower"
Cassian Latin · meaning uncertain, from the Roman family name Cassius (possibly 'empty' or 'vain')
The same roots
Also Latin names, from the tradition Julian comes from.
Florian Latin · flowering, blossoming (from Latin Florianus, borne by a Roman saint); a staple in Germany, Austria, and France, and famously borne by Germany's Florian Wirtz
Maximilian Latin · "greatest," from the Roman Maximus; by tradition coined by Emperor Frederick III to combine two Roman generals' virtues for his son, and a Habsburg signature ever after. The grandest route to Max there is
Valentin Latin · from Latin valens, 'strong, healthy'
Julio Latin · Spanish form of Julius, a Roman family name of debated meaning, possibly Greek ioulos, 'downy-bearded'
The same feel
Also classic and international names.
Sebastian Greek · "from Sebaste," a city named with sebastos, "venerable," the Greek title for Augustus; the martyr saint gave it to all of Catholic Europe, and its four-syllable dignity made it a modern favorite from Mexico to Germany. Seb and Bash keep it light
Esteban Spanish · form of Stephen, Greek "crown"
Killian Irish · Anglicized form of Cillian, also used in France: probably Old Irish cell, "church", with a diminutive suffix (Saint Killian)
Arian Persian · noble; from the ancient Iranian root arya
Names of the same moment
Each of these is at its highest in the 2020s, the same decade as Julian, on a similar curve.
Elian Spanish · Spanish variant of Elias, traditionally linked to Hebrew 'the Lord is my God'
Cillian Irish · probably Old Irish cell, "church", with a diminutive suffix; famously borne by actor Cillian Murphy
Caspian Persian · used by C. S. Lewis for the Narnia prince (1950); probably from the Caspian Sea, named for the city of Qazvin and the ancient Cas tribe
Bastian German · venerable (short form of Sebastian)
Which of these fits YOUR family? →