Find out how popular the first name Caelan has been for the last 34 years (from 1990 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Caelan by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Caelan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 78% of people named Caelan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 61 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Caelan.

The history of the first name Caelan

The name Caelan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "caol" meaning "slender" or "thin". It is believed to have originated in the 5th or 6th century AD when Gaelic culture flourished in Ireland.

The earliest recorded example of the name Caelan dates back to the 7th century AD. It was the name of an Irish saint and scholar, Caelan of Inishcaltra, who lived on the island of Inishcaltra in Lough Derg, County Galway. He is said to have established a monastic school on the island and was known for his wisdom and learning.

Another notable figure in history with the name Caelan was Caelan mac Aillila, a 7th-century Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig dynasty. He ruled over the territory of South Leinster and is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.

In the 9th century, Caelan mac Ailella was an Irish abbot and scribe who lived at the monastery of Iona in Scotland. He is known for his calligraphy and is believed to have transcribed several important manuscripts during his lifetime.

During the Middle Ages, Caelan was the name of a 12th-century Irish bishop and poet. Caelan of Loughcrew served as the Bishop of Ardagh and is remembered for his religious writings and poetry.

In more recent times, Caelan O'Connor was an Irish writer and journalist born in 1920. He authored several books and worked as a newspaper editor, contributing to the literary and cultural life of Ireland in the 20th century.

While the name Caelan has its roots in ancient Irish history and culture, it has also gained popularity in modern times, particularly in Ireland and among Irish communities around the world. However, its usage remains relatively uncommon compared to more widely known Irish names.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Caelan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caelan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!