Dillan

Dillan is an English given name, a phonetic variant of Dylan (sometimes spelled Dillon).

The root name Dylan derives from the Welsh elements dy meaning "to, toward" and llanw meaning "tide, flow". In Welsh mythology, according to the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, Dylan was the son of Arianrhod and twin brother of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. After his baptism, he immediately took to the sea, where he could swim as well as a fish. He was accidentally slain by his uncle Gofannon. Some scholars suggest Dylan may have originated from an earlier Celtic sea god.

The name Dylan gained modern fame through Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) and American musician Bob Dylan (born 1941, real name Robert Zimmerman, who adopted his stage surname from the poet). In the late 20th century, the name spread beyond Wales, receiving a boost from a character on the television series Beverly Hills 90210 in the 1990s. The variant spelling Dillan has been in use as a masculine given name in English-speaking countries, particularly since that time.

• Meaning: "tide, flow" (Welsh elements dy- + llanw)
• Origin: English, originally Welsh
• Type: Given name, variant of Dylan
• Usage: English-speaking countries