Caolán
Say it: KEE-lawn[ˈkiːlˠaːnˠ]
BoyIrishMeans slender6 letters2 syllables
#132
in Ireland (2025)
#103 with spellings combined
56
babies in 2025
#95
best rank (2023)
1,200
babies since 1982
Up 74
10-year rank change
Caolán through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 | #103 |
| 2024 | 59 | #98 |
| 2023 | 63 | #95 |
| 2022 | 44 | #135 |
| 2021 | 49 | #131 |
| 2020 | 56 | #108 |
| 2019 | 44 | #137 |
| 2018 | 28 | #199 |
| 2017 | 31 | #188 |
| 2016 | 33 | #177 |
| 2015 | 34 | #177 |
| 2014 | 32 | #184 |
| 2013 | 38 | #171 |
| 2012 | 43 | #156 |
| 2011 | 34 | #189 |
| 2010 | 29 | #201 |
| 2009 | 25 | #220 |
| 2008 | 26 | #208 |
| 2007 | 36 | #160 |
| 2006 | 28 | #166 |
| 2005 | 36 | #140 |
| 2004 | 26 | #157 |
| 2003 | 25 | #156 |
| 2002 | 26 | #148 |
| 2001 | 37 | #120 |
| 2000 | 23 | #154 |
| 1999 | 34 | #120 |
| 1998 | 23 | #139 |
| 1997 | 36 | #127 |
| 1996 | 31 | #135 |
| 1995 | 23 | #147 |
| 1994 | 11 | #192 |
| 1993 | 23 | #151 |
| 1992 | 8 | #222 |
| 1991 | 5 | #263 |
| 1990 | 7 | #229 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
| 1988 | 10 | #196 |
| 1987 | 9 | #203 |
| 1986 | 11 | #192 |
| 1982 | 4 | #286 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Caolán mean?
Slender
Irish, from caol (slender, narrow) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
KEElawn
KAY-lawn is also widely heard. Keelan and Kealan are English spellings of the same name.
Not:KAY-oh-lan
The story of Caolán
Caolán comes from the Irish caol, meaning slender, narrow or fine, with the small ending -án. It is an old name, going back to Old Irish, and it has several English spellings, including Kealan, Keelan and Kelan.
In Irish the “ao” is said like the “ee” in “see”, which is why many people say KEE-lawn. KAY-lawn is also common, and both are heard in Ireland.
The name first reached the Irish list in 1982. The CSO did not record fadas before 2018, and it now counts Caolán and Caolan separately. Its best year was 2023, when 63 boys were given one of the two spellings. The fada spelling is now the more common one, with 41 of the 56 boys in 2025. The name has long been more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was as high as 28th in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Caolán (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Caolán
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Caolán | 41 | 288 |
| Caolan | 15 | 912 |
In Northern Ireland
#99 in 2025 with 24 babies. Best rank #28 (1997); 1,610 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.