Jump to content

Dylan (name)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dylan
Dylan Thomas statue in Swansea
PronunciationWelsh: [ˈdəlan]
/ˈdɪlən/
Original pronunciation of Dylan
Anglicised pronunciation of Dylan
GenderUnisex (originally masculine)
Language(s)Welsh, English
Origin
Language(s)Welsh
Word/namedy- + llanw
Meaning"son of the sea" or "born from the ocean"
Region of originWales
Other names
Variant form(s)Dylann
Related namesDillon

Dylan is a given name and surname of Welsh origin. It means "son of the sea”, "born from the ocean", or "great tide". It is derived from the Welsh words "dy," meaning "great," and "llanw," meaning "tide" or "sea".[1] In Welsh mythology, Dylan ail Don is a sea god or hero associated with the waves and tides in the Welsh mythic Mabinogion tales, particularly in the fourth branch of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, "Math fab Mathonwy". He was a demi-god, son of Arianrhod, daughter of Dôn.

"Welsh aquatic hero or sea demigod, the son of Arianrhod daughter of Dôn in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi; may carry the epithet Ail Ton, Eil Ton, Eil Tôn, Eilton, Eil Don (son of wave) or Ail Mor (son of the sea). Described as dark, Dylan contrasts with his fair twin brother, Lleu Llawgyffes."

Arianrhod gives birth to Dylan immediately after stepping over Gwydion's magic wand. He takes to the sea as soon as he is baptized, and assumes the sea's nature; he can swim as well as any fish and no wave ever breaks under him. His name is also cited in the Book of Taliesin and the Triads. Dylan may be based on an independent sea-divinity whose story became associated with Lleu Llaw Gyffes. "Endil" refers to an obscure early British sea-deity, potentially a variant of Dylan. It is also found in Norse mythology, where Endill is a jötunn (giant), god, or sea-king, mentioned in lists of sea kings and kennings. Additionally, "Endil" is part of the name Elendil, meaning "friend".[2] 

Dylan may have served as a model for the Arthurian figure Dyonas, the father of the beautiful Vivian.[3] In Wales, it was the most popular Welsh name given to boys in 2010.[4]

The name Dylan is popular in Ireland and has been adopted into the Irish culture, From dealan ”a flash of lightning” or it may come from an Irish word for ”faithful, loyal.” A common surname is the Irish form of the Welsh name “”Dylan.””

The surname is also believed to be one of the Anglo-Norman names that arrived in Ireland in the wake of the 12th century invasion by Richard "Strongbow" de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The surname Dylan belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Originally, these place names were prefixed by de; "from" in French. The name of the Dylan family comes from the name of the town of Lyon in central France. In France, the name may also have been a nickname for a fierce or brave warrior, as derived from the Old French word "lion," which meant "lion." The Irish Gaelic form of the surname Dylan is Diolún. 

Dylan was the tenth most popular name for Irish baby boys in Ireland for 2003.[5]

People with the given name

[edit]

The popularity of Dylan as a given name in modern times could also be attributed to the poet Dylan Thomas and American singer Bob Dylan who adopted the surname as a stage name.

Male

[edit]

Female

[edit]
  • Dylann Ceriani, American volleyball player
  • Dylan Dreyer (born 1981), American meteorologist
  • Dylan Farrow (born 1985), adopted daughter of Mia Farrow
  • Dylan Gelula (born 1994), American actress
  • Dylan Greenberg (born 1997), American film director and musician
  • Dylan Holmes (born 1997), Australian professional footballer
  • Dylan Hundley, American actress, singer, and visual artist
  • Dylan Krieger (born 1990), American poet and writer
  • Dylan Lauren (born 1974), American entrepreneur, owner of Dylan's Candy Bar (daughter of Ralph Lauren)
  • Dylan Mulvaney (born 1996), American actress and internet celebrity
  • Dylan Mira (born 1982), American artist, educator, and installation art
  • Dylan Penn (born 1991), American model and actress (daughter of Sean Penn and Robin Wright)
  • Dylan Quercia (born 1985), American chess player
  • Dylan Ryan (born 1981), American pornographic actress
  • Dylan Ryder (born 1981), American pornographic actress
  • Dylan Sada (1984–2020), Indonesian-American model, photographer, and singer
  • Dylan Sahara (1992–2018), Indonesian television actress and presenter

People with the surname

[edit]
  • Bob Dylan (born 1941), American composer and performer (born Robert Zimmerman)
  • Ellie Dylan (born 1952), American executive
  • Jakob Dylan (born 1969), American singer-songwriter, lead singer of the rock band The Wallflowers (son of Bob and Sara Dylan)
  • Jesse Dylan (born 1966), American film director, eldest son of Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan
  • Sara Dylan (born 1939), American actress, first wife of Bob Dylan
  • Sarah X Dylan (born 1980), American radio and television personality
  • Whitney Dylan (born 1976), American television and film actress

Fictional characters

[edit]

Other uses

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru. Vol. difethedig–ffrwythog. University of Wales. 2006. p. 2202. Archived from the original on 2005-12-03. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  2. ^ https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095751236#:~:text=Quick%20Reference,A%20Dictionary%20of%20Celtic%20Mythology%20%C2%BB
  3. ^ https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095737550
  4. ^ "Boys Name Dylan". 8 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  5. ^ https://www.houseofnames.com/uk/dylan-family-crest
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dylan_(name)&oldid=1293809542"