Julian m; occasionally f
English: from the common Late Latin given name Juliānus, a derivative of JULIUS (SEE Julius). In classical times Juliānus was a name borne not only by various minor early saints, but also by the Roman emperor Julian ‘the Apostate’, who attempted to return the Roman Empire from institutionalized Christianity to paganism. For many centuries the English name Julian was borne by women as well as men, for example by the Blessed Julian of Norwich (c.1342–after 1413). The differentiation in form of Julian and GILLIAN (SEE Gillian) did not occur until the 16th century. Julian is still occasionally used as a female name.
Cognates: French: Julien. Spanish: Julián. Catalan: Juià.
First names dictionary. 2012.