Boy Names Ending in -ian
Boy names ending in ian include dozens of popular choices, led by Sebastian.
Along with Sebastian, other boy names ending in ian in the US Top 300 include Julian, Christian, Damian, Brian, and Killian.
Unique boy names ending in ian on our recommended list include Cyprian, Dorian, Finnian, Florian, and Osian.
All our boy names ending with the letters ian are collected here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
Along with Sebastian, other boy names ending in ian in the US Top 300 include Julian, Christian, Damian, Brian, and Killian.
Unique boy names ending in ian on our recommended list include Cyprian, Dorian, Finnian, Florian, and Osian.
All our boy names ending with the letters ian are collected here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
- Caspian
Origin:
Place nameMeaning:
"white"Description:
One of the most romantic of appellations, as well as being a geographical name of the large salty sea between Asia and Europe that probably inspired C.S. Lewis to use it for the name of the hero of his children's novel, Prince Caspian, part of the Chronicles of Narnia series.
- Sebastian
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"person from ancient city of Sebastia"Description:
Sebastian is derived from the Greek Sebastianos, meaning “from Sebastia.” Sebastia was a city in Asia Minor—modern day Sivas, Turkey. Sebastian is a name with a substantial history, first as the third-century martyr whose sufferings were a favorite subject of medieval artists, then as the name of memorable characters in such varied works as Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and The Tempest and Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.
- Cassian
Origin:
Latin, variation of CassiusMeaning:
"hollow"Description:
Cassian is a saints' and Latin clan name, related to Cassius, that is virtually unused and waiting to be discovered.
- Lucian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucian is a sleeker, more sophisticated version of Lucius that is climbing in tandem with other Lu-starting names.
- Cillian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"war strife or church"Description:
This classic Irish name , which is better known in this country by its Anglicized form Killian, is one of several newer recommended Gaelic choices that have entered the American name pool. Killian now stands at Number 516 in the US, while Cillian is 22 in its Irish homeland.
- Julian
Origin:
English from Latin, variation of JuliusMeaning:
"youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father"Description:
Julian was derived from Iulianus, which in turn came from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded in history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning “downy-bearded”; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
,br/>Julian was a 4th century Roman emperor, and St. Julian the Hospitaller is the patron saint of travelers. In Medieval England, Julian was considered a unisex name, eventually giving rise to the feminine given name Gillian.
- Ian
Origin:
Scottish version of JohnMeaning:
"the Lord is gracious"Description:
Ian is Scottish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan. It is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic Iain, which is also a viable spelling. Ian was introduced to Americans by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.
- Cian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"ancient"Description:
A handsome Irish name for boys, very popular in that country, but in the US this traditional spelling might cause pronunciation problems. Still, whether Cian or Kian, it's simple and straightforward enough for the initiated. Cian is rising in the British popularity charts. This was the name of several legendary figures, including Cian, son of the god of medicine. His own son was Lugh, the sun god and father of the Ulster warrior Cuchulain and Cian is also the name of the son-in-law of the high king Brian Boru. So very well connected.
- Damian
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"to tame, subdue"Description:
Damian has sidestepped its demonic horror movie overtones, leaving a basically friendly and charming Irish image. A well-used upper-class name in England, it is growing in popularity here.
- Maximilian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"greatest"Description:
This name once seemed a bit grand and pompous for an American baby boy, but a significant number of parents are now preferring it as a substantial platform for the nickname Max, among them Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, who chose it for their twin son.
- Dorian
Origin:
Greek, name of a tribeDescription:
The Dorians were an ancient Greek tribe, one of the three major pre-Spartan tribes. It literally means “of Doris,” a Greek district, or “of Doros,” referring to the son of Helen of Sparta. Dorian derives from the Greek doron, meaning “gift,” along with related names such as Dorothy and Dora.
- Adrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"man of Adria"Description:
Adrian is derived from Hadrianus, a Roman family name meaning “from Hadria.” There were two Roman towns called Hadria, the first in Northern Italy, modern day Adria, and the second in Central Italy, known today as Atri. The name of the Adriatic Sea comes from the same origins as Adrian.
- Kian
Origin:
Irish, variation of CianDescription:
A friendly Irish name chosen for one of her twin boys by Geena Davis.
- Fabian
Origin:
Latin clan nameMeaning:
"bean grower"Description:
Fabian is the ancient name of a saint and pope that also has Shakespearean cred as Olivia's servant in Twelfth Night and more recently made an appearance in Harry Potter. In the U.S. Fabian became best known via the 1960s teen idol/singer who went solely by his first name.
- Bastian
Origin:
Diminutive of Sebastian, Latin from GreekMeaning:
"man of Sebastia"Description:
In Spanish cultures, and spelled either Bastian or Bastien, this is a fairly common nickname name. The German fantasy children's book The Neverending Story features a young boy character called Bastian Balthlazar Bux, and it has also been seen in several screen versions.
- Brian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"strong, virtuous, and honorable"Description:
The origins of the name Brian are not entirely clear, but it is suspected that it evolved from an Old Celtic word related to nobility. In Ireland the name is associated with Brian Boru, the most famous of all Irish warrior-kings, credited with driving the Vikings out of Ireland. Bryan is a common alternative spelling.
- Christian
Origin:
Greek or English from LatinMeaning:
"anointed one or follower of Christ"Description:
The name Christian has fallen a bit from its 90's and 00's heights, but it's still quite popular. Once considered overly pious, Christian is now seen as making a bold statement of faith by some, while also having secular appeal for others, perhaps influenced by such celebrities as Christian Slater and Christian Bale, not to mention the fashion world's Dior, Lacroix, Louboutin and Audigier.
- Finnian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fair"Description:
Finnian is a fair jig of a name, energetic and easy on the ear. Finnian (and brother Finian) is also familiar in its alternate spelling through the classic 1968 Broadway musical Finian's Rainbow, later made into a film starring Fred Astaire as Finian McLonergan.
- Killian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"war strife or church"Description:
Killian – aka Cillian – is a spirited yet resonant Gaelic name that was borne by several Irish saints and could make a distinctive replacement for the dated Kelly. Kylian is another spelling that's gaining traction, thanks to French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Possible downsides: an unsavory first syllable and a connection to the trendy brew.
- Hadrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"dark-haired"Description:
Most parents would find this old Roman name pretentious compared to the more accessible Adrian, but some history buffs just might want to commemorate the enlightened emperor.