Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Dillon

Dillon is an altered spelling of Dylan. Dylan is a Celtic-Welsh name derived from a poetic noun meaning “sea.” In Welsh mythology, Dylan was the son of Arianrhod who became a minor divinity of the sea. As a young boy, Dylan was baptized, whereby he was “plunged into the sea. And immediately when he was in the sea, he took to its nature, and swam as well as the best fish that was therein. And for that reason was he called Dylan, the son of the Wave.” The name most notably has been held by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. In an unrelated etymological origin, Dillon also comes from the transferred use of an English surname, derived from a place name so called Dilwyn in Herefordshire (western England). The Olde English word "diglum" signified a ‘retreat’. It could also be derived from a Germanic personal name "Dillo" meaning ‘the destroyer’ introduced to England by the French Normans in the 11th century. Lastly, the name could originate from the Irish Gaelic "O'Duilleain" meaning ‘descendant of the blind one’.

All About the Baby Name – Dillon

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME DILLON

The Three energy is powerful and enthusiastic. These personalities are cheerful, full of self-expression, and often quite emotional. They have an artistic flair and "gift-of-gab" that makes them natural entertainers. Their joyfulness bubbles over, and their infectious exuberance draws a crowd. The Three personality is like a child - forever young and full of delight. They are charming, witty, and generally happy people. The Three personality lives in the "now" and has a spontaneous nature. Threes seem to live with a bright and seemingly unbreakable aura that attracts others to them. In turn, they are deeply loyal and loving to their friends and family. Luck also has a tendency to favor number Threes.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME DILLON

While Dylan is considered unisex, Dillon is primarily used for males in America. Dillon briefly appeared on the male naming charts in the late 1880s although it did not reappear again until 1979. Dylan for boys came on the charts in 1966, so it seems clear that this old Welsh name was the inspiration behind the usage of Dillon. While Dylan is the far more popular name, Dillon did manage to carve a spot on the Top 100 list for two years in the early 1990s. Today, the name is on the decline but it remains a familiar choice. If you’re a fan of Welsh culture and an appreciator of the sea, then we say stick with Dylan. Dillon is more of a “Last Names First” example of the trendy usage of surnames as personal names. Both names sound exactly the same, so it really comes down to a spelling preference.

Quick Facts

ON DILLON

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Celtic

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

378

PRONUNCIATION:

DILL-en

SIMPLE MEANING:

Sea

Characteristics

OF DILLON

Communicative

Creative

Optimistic

Popular

Social

Dramatic

Happy

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Dillon

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME DILLON

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Dillon

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME DILLON

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Dillon


Popular Songs

ON DILLON

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Dillon


Famous People

NAMED DILLON

Dillon Anderson (former National Security Advisor)
Dillon Freasier (actor)

Children of Famous People

NAMED DILLON

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Dillon

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME DILLON

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Dillon