Dylan is a Welsh name that comes from the elements dy meaning "to" or "toward" and llanw meaning "tide" or "flow", which can be translated to mean "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean". It is commonly used as a surname as well as a given name. Dylan ail Don is a character from Welsh mythology, but the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas popularised the name in modern times. Although its popularity is waning as compared to its peak in the 2000s and early 2010s, it remains one of the most popular male names, especially in Wales.