Zoltan
A Slavic name that carries the sense of "ruler," even "sultan." In Poland it barely registers: only about a hundred men hold it, all of them male, and hardly a boy gets it anymore.
Zoltan Pronunciation
Zoltan is pronounced ZOL-tahn (/ˈzɔltan/).
What Zoltan means
Where Zoltan comes from and what it has meant to the people who carry it.
Zoltan has a Slavic origin, and its meaning points straight at power: sultan, ruler. The name reaches back to the title borne by men who governed, the sultan who held authority over land and people. A boy given this name wears a word that once named a throne.
Names like this age in interesting ways. The literal sense of "sultan" faded as the name settled into everyday use, and what remained was the plainer idea of a ruler, someone in charge. Parents today meet Zoltan on a class register or an official form at the urząd, spelled cleanly, four consonants and two vowels.
It stays rare in Poland, which keeps it distinct. There is no diminutive worn smooth by habit, no cross-gender twin. What you get is the full form, Zoltan, and the meaning behind it: sultan, ruler.
How many people are named Zoltan
1 in 197650 men in Poland is named Zoltan. 108 people carry it in the 2025 register: rank #3285 among male names.
Zoltan's popularity over time
Fewer than 2 boys were given the name in 2025. It has been stable for a decade.