Ilan

BoyHebrew· “tree”

Meaning
tree
Origin
Hebrew
Pronunciation
ee-LAHN
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#1,445
US babies 2025
124
Best rank
#1,133 (2003)
Peak year
2023

Meaning and origin of Ilan

Ilan is a Hebrew name that means “tree”.

Ilan is a Hebrew name meaning tree. It is a modern Israeli name, chosen for its connection to nature and to the land, and it has been used since the twentieth century. A well-known bearer is Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. The name is also used in France and in Spanish-speaking countries, where its short form feels contemporary and international. Ilan has a gentle, grounded sound with stress on the second syllable.

Popularity over time

050100150200197019801990200020102020Peak 2023: 153
US babies named Ilan per year, 1880 to 2025

Ilan first appears in US Social Security records in 1965. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,133 in 2003, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 153 were named Ilan. In 2025, 124 babies were named Ilan, and it ranked #1,445 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.

Its national rank moved from #2,774 in 1980, #2,312 in 2000, #1,770 in 2010, and #1,445 in 2025. Of the 3,231 US boys named Ilan since records began, 31% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 771 babies.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Ender, Mars, Amadeus, Huxton, and Malek.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Ilan ranked highest in New Jersey, New York, and Texas.

StateRank thereBabies
New Jersey#7958
New York#93214
Texas#99024
Georgia#10278
Florida#12929

Gender, sound and spelling

About 97% of US babies named Ilan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.

Ilan is usually pronounced ee-LAHN, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with I and ends in “-an”.

Middle names for Ilan

A few middle names that flow with Ilan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Kai Boy
KY
“sea (Hawaiian)” · Hawaiian
#93

Sibling names for Ilan

Similar names

Ethan Boy
EE-thuhn
“firm, enduring, strong” · Hebrew
#24
Nathan Boy
NAY-thuhn
“he gave” · Hebrew
#63
Evan Boy
EH-vuhn
“Yahweh is gracious” · Welsh
#153
Ian Boy
EE-uhn
“God is gracious” · Scottish
#83
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59
Adan Boy
ah-DAHN
“man, earth” · Spanish
#482
Gian Boy
JAHN
“short form of Giovanni; God is gracious” · Italian
#956
Oren Boy
OHR-uhn
“pine tree” · Hebrew
#1,184
Jordan Boy
JAWR-duhn
“to flow down” · Hebrew
#131
Brennan Boy
BREH-nuhn
“from an Irish surname” · Irish
#1,003
Davian Boy
DAY-vee-uhn
“modern blend, perhaps of David and -ian” · American (modern coinage)
#1,363
Titan Boy
TY-tuhn
“one of the Titans, elder gods” · Greek
#1,295

Lists that include Ilan

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Ilan mean?

Ilan is a Hebrew name that means “tree”.

What is the origin of the name Ilan?

Ilan has Hebrew roots. Ilan is a Hebrew name meaning tree.

Is Ilan a popular name?

Not especially. Ilan ranked #1,445 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Ilan a boy or girl name?

Ilan is mainly a boy's name. About 97% of US babies named Ilan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.

How do you pronounce Ilan?

Ilan is usually pronounced ee-LAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings