Fun Facts About the Name Elan
- More than 4 thousand babies named Elan: U.S. records list 4,330 babies given the name Elan from 1880 through 2025. Even 798 girls received the name Elan - about 1 girl for every 4 boys.
What Does the Name Elan Mean?
Elan has two separate origins. As a Hebrew name, written אֵילָן, it is generally taken to mean "tree." It is closely related to the Hebrew word אִילָן (ilan), the ordinary word for "tree" in Mishnaic and Modern Hebrew. A connection is sometimes drawn to the biblical Elon (אֵילוֹן), a word for a terebinth or oak, but that link is not certain.
The English name is also used as a borrowing of the French word élan, meaning "dash," "spur," or "momentum" - a sense of driving energy. The French noun comes from Old French eslan, from the verb eslancer ("to throw, to launch"), and has no link to the Hebrew name. The two origins simply share a spelling in English.
Elan Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Elan belongs to the same family as Ilan, a masculine name long used in Jewish communities and common in modern Israel. Both forms draw on the Hebrew word for "tree" (אִילָן). Elan is used as a given name in Israel and among Jewish families elsewhere.
The French noun élan entered English in the 19th century, where it names a burst of energy or forward drive. English speakers later adopted Elan as a given name, either from that word or from the Hebrew name. Because both sources yield the same spelling, the name in English may come from either.
How Popular is the Name Elan?
Elan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2011. Its best rank was #1,266 in 2011.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #15,556 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,337 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #9,792 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #9,883 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #11,397 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #13,897 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #8,728 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #7,883 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #8,939 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #6,997 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #6,805 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #6,792 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #5,703 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #5,964 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2011 | #7,529 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #5,290 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2009 | #14,121 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #6,193 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #9,719 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #12,738 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #10,356 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #6,571 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #9,878 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #6,801 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #11,322 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #4,835 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #5,283 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #5,196 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #7,925 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #8,342 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #6,049 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #8,319 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,876 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #6,756 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #5,742 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #4,918 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1989 | #4,722 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #7,283 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,524 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #3,670 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1985 | #4,690 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #2,350 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 1983 | #6,864 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #5,294 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #7,599 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #4,574 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #5,850 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #5,660 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #5,610 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #7,516 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #8,283 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,891 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #6,864 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #6,748 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #6,169 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #3,921 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #3,124 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,490 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 2024 | #2,636 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2023 | #2,251 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 2022 | #1,921 | 81 | 0.0046% |
| 2021 | #1,712 | 95 | 0.0054% |
| 2020 | #1,927 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 2019 | #1,510 | 113 | 0.0063% |
| 2018 | #1,494 | 116 | 0.0064% |
| 2017 | #1,367 | 130 | 0.0070% |
| 2016 | #1,403 | 125 | 0.0066% |
| 2015 | #1,455 | 116 | 0.0061% |
| 2014 | #1,337 | 130 | 0.0068% |
| 2013 | #1,340 | 127 | 0.0067% |
| 2012 | #1,310 | 131 | 0.0069% |
| 2011 | #1,266 | 136 | 0.0072% |
| 2010 | #1,496 | 109 | 0.0057% |
| 2009 | #1,692 | 93 | 0.0047% |
| 2008 | #1,742 | 87 | 0.0043% |
| 2007 | #1,489 | 107 | 0.0052% |
| 2006 | #1,828 | 75 | 0.0036% |
| 2005 | #1,728 | 77 | 0.0039% |
| 2004 | #1,820 | 68 | 0.0034% |
| 2003 | #1,469 | 89 | 0.0045% |
| 2002 | #1,709 | 68 | 0.0035% |
| 2001 | #1,593 | 75 | 0.0039% |
| 2000 | #1,901 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 1999 | #1,941 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1998 | #1,908 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1997 | #1,864 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 1996 | #1,879 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1995 | #1,928 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1994 | #1,758 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1993 | #2,228 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1992 | #1,823 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1991 | #2,359 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1990 | #1,982 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1989 | #1,573 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 1988 | #1,506 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1987 | #1,512 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 1986 | #1,422 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1985 | #2,187 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1984 | #1,465 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1983 | #1,724 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1982 | #1,603 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1981 | #1,868 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1980 | #1,976 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #1,603 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1978 | #1,931 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1977 | #1,875 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #2,449 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #2,563 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #2,386 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #3,524 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #2,718 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #2,153 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #2,014 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1969 | #2,923 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,233 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,833 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,647 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #3,739 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,223 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Elan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Elan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Elan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.