A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Orlan since 1898
Babies named Orlan per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Orlan's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 139 |
| 1920s | 243 |
| 1930s | 191 |
| 1940s | 149 |
| 1950s | 97 |
| 1960s | 41 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 33 |
Meaning & origin
Orlan is an extremely rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1898, which also happens to be its peak year. After fading from use for most of the 20th century, it has been rising slowly since 2015. In the latest year with data, 2025, Orlan ranked 9,714th nationally, with roughly 1 in every 244,011 boys receiving the name. It has never been recorded among the top baby names in any state. The name's obscurity and simple, strong sound may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive but straightforward choice.
Orlan is likely a short form or variant of Orland, a name that emerged in the English-speaking world as an alteration of Roland. Roland, brought to England by the Normans, combines the Germanic elements 'hrod' (fame) and 'land' (land). Orlan has rarely been used as an independent given name, with its earliest recorded instances in the late 19th century. It remains uncommon.
“Orlan” around the world
Where Orlan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Orland
Sibling names for Orlan
Names that share Orlan's style, for a brother or sister.
