Keelan
Caolán is a masculine given name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish word "caol-". The name has a number of Anglicisations, including "Kelan", "Keelan" and "Kealan".
- Irish
Meaning & Origin of Keelan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Caolán is a masculine given name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish word "caol-". The name has a number of Anglicisations, including "Kelan", "Keelan" and "Kealan".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
The Story of Keelan
As a girl name
Keelan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1974, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2001, when 20 Keelans were born — ranking #5,570 that year. As of 2026, Keelan ranks #15,178 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 351 Keelans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Keelan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1967, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 135 Keelans were born — ranking #1,307 that year. As of 2026, Keelan ranks #2,443 for boys with 57 births, falling sharply (-36%). In total, more than 4K Keelans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Keelan
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Keelan. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Caolán
Names that sound like Keelan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Keelan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Keelan
What does the name Keelan mean?
What is the origin of the name Keelan?
How popular is Keelan in 2026?
When was Keelan most popular?
In which U.S. states is Keelan most popular?
Is Keelan a unisex name?
What names go well with Keelan?
What are nicknames or variants of Keelan?
About the name Keelan
Keelan is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1967 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Keelan's peak popularity came in 2015 when it ranked #1,196. Use the chart and map above to compare Keelan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2015 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.