Dillon
/ˈdɪl.ən/
Dillon is a variant of Dylan based on the spelling of the Irish surname Dillon, which has a separate Gaelic etymology from the Welsh Dylan. The Irish surname Dillon derives from the Anglo-Norman personal name Dillon, ultimately from a Germanic name meaning "faithful." This creates an interesting fork: the spelling Dillon arrives through Norman-Irish history while sounding identical to the Welsh Dylan.
Dylan in Welsh mythology is the son of the wave - dyl (wave, sea, tide) plus an (born of). Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), the Welsh poet whose voice made him one of the defining literary figures of the mid-20th century, brought Dylan to global attention. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, 1941) chose the name in tribute to the poet, cementing its countercultural credentials.
The Dillon spelling rose alongside Dylan in the 1990s, often chosen by parents who preferred the visual distinctiveness of the double-l or who wanted to reflect the Irish surname tradition more directly. Marshal Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975), played by James Arness, gave the spelling additional Western American resonance.
What the name Dillon means
Dillon has two syllables: DIL-un. The name has the same clean masculine energy as Dylan but with the slight visual differentiation that sets it apart on paper. Both spellings peaked in the 1990s and have been declining since.
Dillon ranked No. 868 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 355 births. It peaked in the early-to-mid 1990s and has declined steadily since.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Dillon
Dillon - similar names
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