Julien is a masculine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Latin name Julius, which was widespread during the Roman Empire and was often used by members of the Julian family, one of Rome's most prominent patrician families. The Julian family claimed descent from Julus, an early Sabine king who was believed to be the son of the god Mars.
The name Julius is composed of two elements: "Iulus," which means "youthful" or "downy" in Latin, and "-ius," a suffix that denotes relationship or belonging. Therefore, Julien could be interpreted as meaning "young" or "belonging to Jupiter."
Throughout history, many notable figures have borne the name Julien. Saint Julien, also known as Julian of Le Mans, was a 4th-century Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. In France, several kings of the House of Capet bore the name Julien, including Jules Simon, a French statesman and historian during the 19th century.
In literature, Julien Sorel is the protagonist of "The Red and the Black," an 1830 novel by Stendhal that explores themes of ambition, class, and love in post-Napoleonic France. In music, Julian Lennon, the son of John Lennon, became a successful singer-songwriter in his own right.
Today, Julien remains a popular given name in Francophone countries and beyond, with its classic yet approachable sound appealing to parents seeking a timeless name for their sons. Its meaning and history continue to inspire new generations of Juliens around the world.
The name Julien has been a presence in the United States since at least 1888, with six births recorded that year. The number of babies named Julien fluctuated over the next few decades, ranging from five to 23 births per year between 1897 and 1926.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the popularity of the name Julien began to increase steadily. From a low of seven births in 1937, the number of babies named Julien grew to 21 births in 1940 and remained at around ten to 16 births per year until the mid-1950s.
The 1960s saw a continued growth in popularity for the name Julien, with a high of 17 births in 1970. This trend continued into the 1970s and 1980s, with the number of babies named Julien reaching an all-time high of 472 births in 2020.
Overall, since 1888, there have been a total of 13,021 babies named Julien born in the United States. The name's popularity has shown consistent growth over the past century, with significant increases seen since the 1960s. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, Julien remains a well-established and enduring choice for parents in the United States.