National Dillon Day – April 4, 2024

History of National Dillon Day

The name Dillon is derived from the Irish term meaning ‘lion-like’ or ‘royal.’ Although it is mainly used as a first name, it is a popular surname as well. The French nobleman, Sir Henry de Leon, arrived in Ireland in the 12th century in the service of the Earl of Morton, who later became King John. The term ‘de’ means ‘from’ in French; the Dillon family takes its name from a town in central France called Lyon. The nobleman’s name literally meant ‘Henry of the Lyon.’ This eventually turned into Dillion and seeped into the Irish naming practices. Sir Henry resided in Meath and Westmeath counties of Ireland, where this name is still prevalent.

Dillon is also said to have Germanic origins, as the word ‘Dillo’ means “the destroyer” and was brought into England in the 11th century by the French Normans. In England, Dillon is a surname of people belonging to the town of Dilwyn in Herefordshire, with the word ‘Dilwyn’ coming from an Old English word ‘diglum’ that means ‘retreat.’ While Dylan is a unisex name, Dillon is used predominantly in its masculine form. It appeared in popular American naming charts as early as the 1880s, but emerged as a formal name only in the 1970s. The variation, Dylan, is preferred more, especially after the rise of the musician Bob Dylan in the 1960s and onward. This name was included in the Top 100 most popular male names in the United States in the early 1990s.

Notable figures who carry this as their first name include American electronic musician and D.J., Dillon Francis; American actor, Dillon Casey; and former American Public Housing Authority chief, Dillon S. Meyer. This name can be a great choice for parents wishing to name their children with a name symbolizing boldness, courage, and loyalty.