Unisex · #2,699 in 2026

Elan

Current Rank
#2,699
Peak Rank
#1,264 (2011)
Total Babies
4K
5-Yr Trend
-45%
👧 Girl peak #2,340 (793 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,264 (4K total)
👦As Boy Name
1963
First Year
2026
Last Year
2011
Peak Year
#1264
Peak Rank
4K
Total Count
63
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1969
First Year
2024
Last Year
1984
Peak Year
#2340
Peak Rank
793
Total Count
56
Years Active

The Story of Elan

As a girl name

Elan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1969, with 19 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1984, when 41 Elans were born — ranking #2,340 that year. As of 2026, Elan ranks #11,069 for girls with 8 births, gradually falling (-10%). In total, more than 793 Elans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Elan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1963, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2011, when 136 Elans were born — ranking #1,264 that year. As of 2026, Elan ranks #2,699 for boys with 48 births, falling sharply (-45%). In total, more than 4K Elans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Elan

Phonetically similar names — useful when Elan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Elan

What does the name Elan mean?
Elan is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1963. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Elan in 2026?
In 2026, Elan ranks #2,699 among boys' names in the U.S., with 48 babies given the name that year.
When was Elan most popular?
Elan reached its peak popularity in 2011, ranking #1,264 that year with 136 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Elan most popular?
Elan has historically been most popular in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Elan.
Is Elan a unisex name?
Yes — Elan is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 18% of Elans assigned female and 82% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Elan?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Elan include Pink, Butler, Alpheus. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Elan

Elan is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1963 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Elan's peak popularity came in 2011 when it ranked #1,264. Use the chart and map above to compare Elan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.