Find out how popular the first name Keelan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Keelan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Keelan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 91% of people named Keelan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 58 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Keelan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Keelan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Keelan

The name Keelan is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Caolán, which means "slender" or "lean". It is believed to have originated in Ireland during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 5th or 6th century AD.

The name is closely linked to Irish culture and heritage, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Gaelic language spoken in Ireland for centuries. The earliest recorded use of the name Keelan is found in Irish historical records and genealogies from the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Keelan was Keelan of Glendalough, an Irish monk and scribe who lived in the 6th century AD. He is known for his contributions to the preservation of ancient Irish literature and religious texts at the Glendalough monastery.

Another notable figure in history with the name Keelan was Keelan O'Reilly, an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Reilly clan in County Cavan, Ireland, during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars against English rule in the 1640s.

In the 19th century, Keelan Corrigan was an Irish-American labor leader and activist who fought for workers' rights and better working conditions in New York City. He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1824 and later immigrated to the United States.

Keelan Foley was an Irish-born American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox in the early 20th century. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1888 and had a career in Major League Baseball from 1911 to 1915.

Another notable figure with the name Keelan was Keelan Wynn, an Irish-American journalist and author who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1937. He worked as a foreign correspondent for various publications and wrote several books about his experiences covering conflicts and global events.

Throughout history, the name Keelan has maintained its strong connection to Irish culture and heritage, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, from religion and literature to politics and sports.

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

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

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