Names Ending in -ian for Boys

Darian

English variation of Darius, Latin from Greek and Persian, or Darren, English from Irish

"possessing goodness; little great one"

The most popular spelling in a family of names including Darien and Darion, Darian has nonetheless been on the decline since it peaked in the 1990s.

Gian

Italian, diminutive of Giovanni

"God is gracious"

Gian sounds (almost) like John, so there's some potential for confusion, but the spelling makes it unmistakeably Italian. It could be a solution if longer names like Gianni and Gianluca aren't your…

Arian

Spelling variation of Aryan

This variation of Aryan has a slightly less racist connotation, making it a bit more acceptable. Arian debuted on the Top 1000 in 2011, but didn't have a sustained rise on the charts. This is likely…

Bastian

Diminutive or variant of Sebastian, Latin, Greek

"man of Sebastia"

A name that sounds both arty and rough-and-tumble, Bastian can be used as either a short form or a stand-alone variant of elegant Sebastian. Also spelled as Bastien, Bastiaan, and Bastían, it notably…

Kristian

Danish, Albanian, Breton, Bulgarian, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish variation of Christian

Variation of Christian.

Kilian

German variation of Cillian, Irish

"war strife; church"

This German spelling of the classic Irish Cillian is heard throughout Europe — it's a popular choice in France as well.

Zavian

Zavian is a modern masculine name that likely developed as a variant of Xavier or Zavier, or possibly as a unique creation combining popular name elements. The name has a contemporary feel with its…

Rian

Irish

"little king"

More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings in the US. There were about 170 baby boys named Rian in the US last year, versus over 4000 named Ryan. In its native…

Cian

Irish

"ancient"

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…

Davian

Modern invented name

"beloved + God is gracious; beloved + to tame"

David plus Damian (or David plus Ian or David plus Darrian) equals this hybrid name. It has been in and out of the US Top 1000 since 2004, though both this spelling and alternative Davion were out of…

Finnian

Irish

"fair"

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 ,…

Tristian

Variation of Tristan, compound name

"noise, sorrow; + anointed one, follower of Christ"

Tristian can be considered a compound name, combining Tristan and Christian, however, it may also be used simply as a spelling variation of the former. The name could therefore have several different…

Avian

Avian is a modern masculine name derived from the Latin word 'avis,' meaning 'bird.' This contemporary choice emerged in the late 20th century alongside the growing trend for unique nature-inspired…

Xavian

Variation of Xavier

"new house"

A spin on the Basque name Xavier, Xavian was likely created with names like Damian, Adrian, and Julian in mind. Also spelled as Xavion, Zavion, and so on. A recent year saw 92 boys receive the name,…

Maximillian

Variant of Maximilian, Latin

"greatest"

An alternative spelling to the sleeker Maximilian, briefly popular in the US in the 90s and early 2000s, and a well used spelling in England and Wales until recently. It ultimately comes from the…

Cristhian

Cristhian is a masculine name representing a variation of the classic name Christian, with Hispanic and Latin American origins. The distinctive spelling with 'th' instead of 't' emerged as the name…

Zian

Zian is a modern masculine name with multicultural origins. In Chinese, it can mean 'persistent' or 'ever-growing,' derived from characters that represent strength and continuity. In Arabic contexts,…

Ilian

Demian

Variant of Damian

Two Latino men have put this Damian variant on the map in the last decade: Brazilian MMA champ Demian Maia and Oscar-nominated actor Demian Bichir.

Florian

Latin

"flowering"

If Flora and Florence have returned full force, then Florian, with its strong Latinate ending and its botanical meaning in one to watch out for. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and…