Declining since 2017, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Zlatan since 2009
Babies named Zlatan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 159 |
| 2020s | 76 |
Meaning & origin
Zlatan is a striking and uncommon name of Slavic origin, most famously associated with Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović. Though the name's meaning is often linked to 'gold', its exact etymology is debated. In the United States, Zlatan first appeared in naming records in 2009, and its popularity peaked in 2016, likely influenced by Ibrahimović's athletic achievements. Since 2017, however, usage has been declining, and in 2025 it ranked at 7,679, given to roughly 1 in every 170,808 newborn boys. The name remains rare across all states, with no top-state concentrations reported. Zlatan's sound and cultural resonance make it a distinctive choice rooted in Balkan heritage.
Zlatan is a Slavic name, likely derived from the word 'zlato' meaning gold, common in South Slavic languages such as Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. It is a masculine given name that has been used historically in the Balkans. The name gained international visibility mainly through the Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović, whose immigrant background popularized the name in Sweden and beyond.
“Zlatan” around the world
Where Zlatan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zlata, Zlatko
Variants: Zlatko, Zlatan
Sibling names for Zlatan
Names that share Zlatan's style, for a brother or sister.
