Total births
3,533
Unisex name · since 1963
Elan
Since 1963, U.S. Social Security records show 3,533 babies named Elan, peaking in 2011. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2650
- among boys today
- 3,533
- born since 1963
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
3,533 babies have been named Elan since 1963, making it today's #2650 unisex name.
Elan has 3,533 recorded births among boys since 1963, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #2650 as of the latest data, more common than 81% of boys, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1963 to 2025.
- #2650 among boys today
- 3,533 born since 1963
- 2010s peak decade
- 81% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Elan is currently the #2650 unisex name in America, more common than 81% of boys - 3,533 born since 1963, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2650
- among boys today
- 3,533
- born since 1963
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
Elan vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2650
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 81% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Elan was born in this single decade.
2011
Single peak year
136 babies were named Elan in 2011 - its busiest year on record.
How Elan compares
3,533 Top 15% higher than 85% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Elan's all-time total is 10x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Elan | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,533 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 136 | 23 | 22,252 |
Elan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Elan's SSA record in two at 1995 and the more recent half accounts for 76% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 24%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1963, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2011 peak of 136, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Elan at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2011
Current rank
#2,650
Active since
1963
Elan popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1963–2025
- Peak year (2011)
- 136
- Annual births at peak, across 63 years of records
Elan popularity over time - girls
798 total births recorded since 1969 (Elan as girls' name)
Elan by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Elan's strongest decade.
1,234 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Elan births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 50
1960s
50 births
- 1970s 201
1970s
201 births
- 1980s 394
1980s
394 births
- 1990s 441
1990s
441 births
- 2000s
2000s
794 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,234 births
- 2020s 419
2020s
419 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,234 births (35% of all-time use).
How Elan compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Elan's total volume
Elan vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Elan by state
Where Elan concentrates geographically, total births since 1963
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 645 | 18.3% |
| #2 | New York | | 580 | 16.4% |
| #3 | Texas | | 169 | 4.8% |
| #4 | Florida | | 133 | 3.8% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 94 | 2.7% |
| #6 | New Jersey | | 34 | 1.0% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 29 | 0.8% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 29 | 0.8% |
California share of Elan's total US births 18.3%
Even split
645 of 3,533 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 19 reporting states.
Elan appears in 19 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Elan? ▼
3,533 babies have been named Elan since 1963. It currently ranks #2650 among boys. The peak year was 2011 with 136 births.
When was Elan most popular? ▼
Elan was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,234 total births. The single peak year was 2011.
Where is Elan most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Elan are California (645 births), New York (580 births), Texas (169 births).
Is Elan a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Elan is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,533 births, and as a girl's name it has 798 births.
How long has the name Elan been used? ▼
Elan has been recorded in Social Security data since 1963, spanning 63 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Elan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Elam, Eladio, Elaine, Elazar, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Elan's data
- Elan's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,234 total births) through the 2020s (419) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Elans (645 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Elan
Nearby Names Like Elan
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Elan
Elam Boy
#2212 2,940 births
Eladio Boy
#4919 1,813 births
Elaine Boy
653 births
Elazar Boy
#4621 611 births
Elai Boy
#5190 259 births
Compare Elan side by side: Elan vs Elam Elan vs Eladio Elan vs Elaine
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Elan
Salim #2649
2,005 births · Peak 2023
Deontae #2651
3,697 births · Peak 2000
Korey #2648
11,443 births · Peak 1990
Luqman #2652
1,116 births · Peak 2025
Rony #2647
1,996 births · Peak 2009
Abubakar #2653
957 births · Peak 2017
Payson #2646
1,443 births · Peak 2015
Devyn #2654
6,793 births · Peak 1999
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1963–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Elan: #2650 Unisex Name - 3,533 Births, Peak 2011." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/elan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Elan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.