Elan
A male given name from Hebrew, variant of Elon.
Every Elan since 1963 — 4,331 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Elan
Elan is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,490 in 2025 with 54 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1963, 4,331 American babies have been named Elan — about 82% boys and 18% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2012, when 153 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Elan stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Elan year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #15,556 | 54 | #2,490 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,383 | 50 | #2,644 |
| 2023 | 10 | #9,804 | 63 | #2,252 |
| 2022 | 10 | #9,893 | 81 | #1,923 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11,403 | 95 | #1,712 |
| 2020 | 6 | #13,909 | 76 | #1,927 |
| 2019 | 12 | #8,728 | 113 | #1,510 |
| 2018 | 14 | #7,886 | 116 | #1,494 |
| 2017 | 12 | #8,940 | 130 | #1,367 |
| 2016 | 17 | #7,001 | 125 | #1,404 |
| 2015 | 18 | #6,806 | 116 | #1,455 |
| 2014 | 18 | #6,793 | 131 | #1,330 |
| 2013 | 23 | #5,703 | 127 | #1,340 |
| 2012 | 22 | #5,965 | 131 | #1,310 |
| 2011 | 16 | #7,530 | 136 | #1,266 |
| 2010 | 26 | #5,290 | 109 | #1,496 |
| 2009 | 7 | #14,123 | 93 | #1,692 |
| 2008 | 22 | #6,196 | 87 | #1,742 |
| 2007 | 12 | #9,720 | 107 | #1,489 |
| 2006 | 8 | #12,739 | 75 | #1,828 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10,357 | 77 | #1,728 |
| 2004 | 18 | #6,571 | 68 | #1,820 |
| 2003 | 10 | #9,879 | 89 | #1,469 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6,803 | 68 | #1,709 |
| 2001 | 8 | #11,323 | 75 | #1,594 |
| 2000 | 24 | #4,835 | 55 | #1,901 |
| 1995 | 15 | #6,050 | 44 | #1,928 |
| 1990 | 19 | #4,919 | 38 | #1,982 |
| 1985 | 16 | #4,690 | 25 | #2,187 |
| 1980 | 16 | #4,574 | 28 | #1,976 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8,282 | 16 | #2,563 |
| 1970 | 15 | #3,921 | 20 | #2,014 |
| 1965 | — | — | 6 | #3,647 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elan mean?
A male given name from Hebrew, variant of Elon.
How popular is the name Elan in 2025?
Elan ranked #2,490 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 54 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Elan?
4,331 babies have been named Elan in the United States since 1963, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Elan most popular?
Elan peaked in 2012, when 153 newborns received the name.
Is Elan a boy or girl name?
Elan is used for both: about 18% of babies named Elan have been girls and 82% boys.
Is the name Elan rising or falling?
Elan is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.