Find out how popular the first name Callaghan has been for the last 30 years (from 1994 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Callaghan by gender

Based on the last 30 years of data, Callaghan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 86% of people named Callaghan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 39 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Callaghan.

The history of the first name Callaghan

The name Callaghan has its origins in the Gaelic language and culture of Ireland. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Gallchobhair," which means "descendant of the foreign helper or auxiliary." The name can be traced back to the 12th century in County Donegal, Ireland.

Callaghan is believed to have been derived from the Old Irish words "gall" (meaning "foreigner" or "stranger") and "cobhair" (meaning "help" or "assistance"). This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who provided aid or assistance to foreigners or strangers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Callaghan is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1233, a man named Domnall Ó Gallchobhair is mentioned as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the first name Callaghan. One of the most famous was Sir Arthur Callaghan (1907-1991), a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979. Another prominent figure was Callaghan McCarty (1930-2003), an American biochemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of DNA and RNA.

In the realm of literature, Callaghan O'Hara was a fictional character in the novel "The Green Hills of Earth" by Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1951. The character was a spaceship engineer and one of the first settlers on the planet Ganymede.

Other notable individuals with the first name Callaghan include Callaghan McCarthy (1925-2021), an Irish actor and playwright, and Callaghan MacDonald (born 1960), a Canadian actress known for her roles in television series like "The X-Files" and "Battlestar Galactica."

While the name Callaghan has its roots in Ireland, it has been adopted and used in various cultures around the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with strong Irish heritage and connections.

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 Callaghan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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