Declining since 2007, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Kelan since 1956
Babies named Kelan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 29 |
| 1970s | 48 |
| 1980s | 147 |
| 1990s | 287 |
| 2000s | 695 |
| 2010s | 459 |
| 2020s | 131 |
Meaning & origin
Kelan first appeared in U.S. records in 1956, but it has never been a common choice. It reached its peak popularity in 2007, ranking 4857 overall with about 1 in 85,404 baby boys receiving the name in 2025. Since its peak, its usage has been declining, reflecting a shift away from modern variations of traditional Irish names. While no single state showed concentrated usage, the name remains a distinctive option for those seeking a connection to Irish heritage through the Anglicized form of Caolán.
Kelan is likely an Anglicized variant of the Irish name Caolán, derived from the Gaelic word 'caol' meaning 'slender' or 'narrow'. It is also used as a modern American coinage, possibly influenced by similar-sounding names like Keelan or Kellen. The name has seen sporadic use in the United States since the mid-20th century.
“Kelan” around the world
Where Kelan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kel
Sibling names for Kelan
Names that share Kelan's style, for a brother or sister.
