Pronunciation
Kee-lin / Kwee-lin
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Fair, slender
Fun fact
I know people with this name, but if you haven't seen it before, the spelling can look tricky! It's said Kee-lin or Kwee-lin, depending on dialect. Keelin is a familiar anglicised spelling.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Caoilfhionn, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2024 | 3 | #898 |
| 2023 | 5 | #625 |
| 2022 | 3 | #905 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2019 | 3 | #871 |
| 2018 | 5 | #629 |
| 2017 | 7 | #524 |
| 2016 | 4 | #750 |
| 2015 | 3 | #896 |
| 2014 | 5 | #661 |
| 2013 | 7 | #540 |
| 2012 | 6 | #612 |
| 2011 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2010 | 13 | #377 |
| 2009 | 9 | #467 |
| 2008 | 10 | #430 |
| 2007 | 10 | #404 |
| 2006 | 10 | #367 |
| 2005 | 7 | #424 |
| 2004 | 4 | #576 |
| 2003 | 5 | #490 |
| 2002 | 3 | #620 |
| 2001 | 6 | #400 |
| 2000 | 4 | #465 |
| 1999 | 3 | #528 |
| 1998 | 5 | #380 |
| 1997 | 4 | #496 |
| 1996 | 7 | #356 |
| 1995 | 7 | #352 |
| 1994 | 6 | #374 |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | 3 | #523 |
| 1991 | 5 | #423 |
| 1990 | 4 | #446 |
| 1989 | 4 | #445 |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | 5 | #414 |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | 6 | #399 |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | 3 | #542 |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.