Declining since 1995.
Popularity of Dolan since 1914
Babies named Dolan per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1996, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dolan's real moment was 1934.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 49 |
| 1920s | 118 |
| 1930s | 155 |
| 1940s | 135 |
| 1950s | 126 |
| 1960s | 114 |
| 1970s | 137 |
| 1980s | 106 |
| 1990s | 268 |
| 2000s | 270 |
| 2010s | 182 |
| 2020s | 41 |
Meaning & origin
Dolan, a name with deep Irish roots, has seen limited but steady use as a first name in the United States, primarily for boys. Its peak popularity occurred in 1934, after which it experienced a gradual decline that accelerated beginning around 1995. Although it has never ranked in the top 1000, its historical associations with Irish heritage give it a distinctive, old-world charm. The name's etymology, from the Gaelic Ó Dubhláin, meaning 'descendant of the little dark one', connects it to medieval Irish clans in counties Roscommon and Galway. Today, Dolan remains an uncommon choice, appealing to parents seeking a surname-style given name with authentic Celtic origins.
Dolan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dubhláin, from dubh meaning 'dark' and the diminutive suffix -án. Historically a clan name in counties Roscommon and Galway, it has been used occasionally as a given name, particularly in the United States during the early 20th century. Its use as a first name has declined since the mid-1990s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dole
Variants: Doolan, Dolan
Sibling names for Dolan
Names that share Dolan's style, for a brother or sister.
