Julian

Julian is a rising star, having overcome the somewhat pale, aesthetic image it projected in the past and become a solid, handsome, recommended choice.

Julian has numerous historic and cultural references. In addition to St Julian the Hospitaller, patron saint of travelers, and the Roman emperor Julian, there are activist/politician Julian Bond, singer Julian Lennon, novelist Julian Barnes and painter/filmmaker Julian Schnabel, as well as the hero of Stendhal's The Red and the Black and characters on such TV shows as "Alias" and "Law & Order."

In addition to its being at its highest level in the US, Julian has been enjoying an international resurgence in recent years, at Number 3 in Austria, and in the Top 20 in Germany, the Netherlands, Malta, Switzerland, and Brazil.

Celebrities who have chosen Julian for their sons include Robert De Niro, Lisa Kudrow, Jerry Seinfeld, and Paula Patton and Robin Thicke.

Jolyon is an interesting variant form, Julien is the French spelling, and Giuliano is the attractive Italian version.