# Dylan

/ˈdɪɫən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dylan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR A1

a popular name for boys that comes from Wales.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Welsh origin, meaning 'son of the sea' in Welsh mythology.

- Dylan is starting his first day at university tomorrow morning.
- The name Dylan saw a significant surge in international popularity during the mid-twentieth century, partly due to the influence of famous cultural figures.

### 2. a female name

noun · CEFR B2

a name sometimes given to girls.

For teachers: a feminine given name, representing a less common gender-neutral application of the Welsh root.

- Dylan and her sisters all have names that were traditionally for boys.
- While traditionally masculine, Dylan has increasingly been adopted as a feminine given name in several English-speaking countries over the last few decades.

### 3. a surname

noun · CEFR B1

a family name or last name.

For teachers: a surname, most notably associated with the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.

- The professor's last name is Dylan, but he is not related to the singer.
- The surname Dylan is relatively rare compared to its use as a given name, though it remains iconic in contemporary music history.

## Examples

- My friend Dylan lives in London.
- The teacher called on Dylan to answer the question about the history of the town.
- While the name Dylan has roots in Welsh mythology, it gained global popularity in the twentieth century due to famous figures in literature and music.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.