noun Common

Julian

JOO-lee-uhn

Julian (noun) means a male given name, from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius.". Example: “Julian moved to the city after finishing university.”

noun

A male given name, from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius."

"Julian moved to the city after finishing university."

adjective

Relating to Julius Caesar or the calendar named after him, used in Europe before the modern Gregorian calendar replaced it.

"Some Orthodox churches still follow the Julian calendar for religious holidays."

How to Use Julian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA common male name, or an adjective referring to Julius Caesar's calendar system.

Easily confused with

Gregorian →

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Julian” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ moved to the city after finishing university.

Etymology

From the Roman family name "Julius," via the Latin adjective "Iulianus."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for Julian

Asian avian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Persian Serbian Latvian

See all rhymes for Julian →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Julian” mean?

The word “Julian” means a male given name, from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius.". In plain terms, a common male name, or an adjective referring to Julius Caesar's calendar system.

How do you pronounce “Julian”?

“Julian” is pronounced JOO-lee-uhn (/ˈd͡ʒuː.li.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Julian” in a sentence?

Here is “Julian” used in a sentence: “Julian moved to the city after finishing university.”

What part of speech is “Julian”?

Depending on how it is used, “Julian” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “Julian” come from?

The word “Julian” comes from Latin. From the Roman family name "Julius," via the Latin adjective "Iulianus.".

Is “Julian” a common word?

“Julian” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Julian” have?

“Julian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name, from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius.".

What is the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars?

The Julian calendar, named after Julius Caesar, adds a leap year every four years. The Gregorian calendar, which later replaced it across Europe, refined that leap-year rule so the calendar stays more closely aligned with the solar year.

Is the name Julian related to the name Julius?

Yes. Julian comes from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius," so the two names are directly connected. The same root gives us the adjective "Julian," as in the Julian calendar.

Is "Julian" always capitalized?

Yes. "Julian" is capitalized both as a given name and as the adjective (the Julian calendar), because it derives from the proper name Julius.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include Julian:

Words That Start With J