Lorcan
Say it: LOR-kan
BoyIrishMeans often explained as "little fierce one"6 letters2 syllables
#125
in Ireland (2025)
#97 with spellings combined
61
babies in 2025
#87
best rank (2015)
2,643
babies since 1964
Down 10
10-year rank change
Lorcan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | #97 |
| 2024 | 60 | #95 |
| 2023 | 46 | #122 |
| 2022 | 49 | #124 |
| 2021 | 62 | #104 |
| 2020 | 60 | #102 |
| 2019 | 57 | #118 |
| 2018 | 62 | #107 |
| 2017 | 58 | #111 |
| 2016 | 75 | #96 |
| 2015 | 86 | #87 |
| 2014 | 76 | #100 |
| 2013 | 61 | #115 |
| 2012 | 68 | #107 |
| 2011 | 70 | #108 |
| 2010 | 75 | #97 |
| 2009 | 82 | #92 |
| 2008 | 85 | #93 |
| 2007 | 64 | #112 |
| 2006 | 59 | #107 |
| 2005 | 46 | #119 |
| 2004 | 66 | #91 |
| 2003 | 38 | #126 |
| 2002 | 51 | #97 |
| 2001 | 57 | #93 |
| 2000 | 55 | #92 |
| 1999 | 50 | #95 |
| 1998 | 41 | #101 |
| 1997 | 39 | #117 |
| 1996 | 38 | #125 |
| 1995 | 38 | #122 |
| 1994 | 34 | #127 |
| 1993 | 51 | #107 |
| 1992 | 45 | #112 |
| 1991 | 36 | #125 |
| 1990 | 41 | #111 |
| 1989 | 47 | #101 |
| 1988 | 45 | #106 |
| 1987 | 23 | #144 |
| 1986 | 30 | #133 |
| 1985 | 31 | #130 |
| 1984 | 35 | #120 |
| 1983 | 22 | #150 |
| 1982 | 23 | #147 |
| 1981 | 31 | #133 |
| 1980 | 32 | #131 |
| 1979 | 20 | #152 |
| 1978 | 21 | #154 |
| 1977 | 13 | #184 |
| 1976 | 24 | #142 |
| 1975 | 15 | #177 |
| 1974 | 24 | #146 |
| 1973 | 18 | #163 |
| 1972 | 14 | #180 |
| 1971 | 17 | #159 |
| 1970 | 25 | #129 |
| 1969 | 21 | #135 |
| 1968 | 15 | #146 |
| 1967 | 14 | #144 |
| 1966 | 13 | #144 |
| 1965 | 17 | #124 |
| 1964 | 11 | #147 |
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 Lorcan mean?
Often explained as "little fierce one"
English spelling of Irish Lorcán, a small form of lorc, a word whose meaning is disputed.
Say it right
LORkan
The fada spelling Lorcán is said LOR-kawn.
The story of Lorcan
Lorcan is the English spelling of the Irish Lorcán. It is a small form of lorc, a word found in the name of Lóegaire Lorc, one of the legendary early High Kings of Ireland. What lorc meant is disputed. The name is often explained as “little fierce one”, but that is not certain.
Several kings of Leinster bore the name. The best-known Lorcán, though, is Lorcán Ua Tuathail, Saint Laurence O’Toole, who became Archbishop of Dublin in 1162. He acted as a go-between when the Normans arrived and is now the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Dublin. Lorcán was sometimes put into English as Laurence.
Lorcan was already in use when the CSO data begins in 1964. Its best year was 2015, with 86 boys and number 87. The CSO did not record fadas before 2018 and now counts Lorcan and Lorcán separately. In 2025 the two together reached number 97, while Lorcan alone was number 125. It is more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached 31st in 2023.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Lorcán (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Lorcan
- Wikipedia: Laurence O'Toole
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lorcan | 43 | 2,518 |
| Lorcán | 18 | 125 |
In Northern Ireland
#48 in 2025 with 42 babies. Best rank #31 (2023); 1,106 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.