Pronunciation
Kee-lan
Meaning
Little slender one
Related forms: Caolán (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Caolán; Caelan; Kealan
Fun fact
Keelan is an Anglicised spelling of Caolán, from caol, meaning slender. It sounds similar to Keelin, but Keelin is usually linked with Caoilfhionn, a separate name meaning slender and fair. So it's worth keeping the two families separate.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Keelan, 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 | 22 | #211 |
| 2024 | 17 | #252 |
| 2023 | 22 | #215 |
| 2022 | 21 | #231 |
| 2021 | 27 | #193 |
| 2020 | 17 | #271 |
| 2019 | 35 | #164 |
| 2018 | 25 | #216 |
| 2017 | 31 | #188 |
| 2016 | 29 | #196 |
| 2015 | 37 | #167 |
| 2014 | 35 | #175 |
| 2013 | 39 | #167 |
| 2012 | 52 | #135 |
| 2011 | 36 | #183 |
| 2010 | 43 | #160 |
| 2009 | 34 | #170 |
| 2008 | 43 | #155 |
| 2007 | 45 | #141 |
| 2006 | 45 | #126 |
| 2005 | 37 | #138 |
| 2004 | 40 | #126 |
| 2003 | 29 | #145 |
| 2002 | 28 | #142 |
| 2001 | 31 | #135 |
| 2000 | 34 | #126 |
| 1999 | 38 | #115 |
| 1998 | 23 | #139 |
| 1997 | 30 | #138 |
| 1996 | 15 | #185 |
| 1995 | 17 | #164 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 8 | #223 |
| 1992 | 11 | #198 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
| 1988 | 5 | #254 |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | 6 | #247 |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 1984 | 6 | #234 |
| 1983 | 3 | #330 |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | 4 | #292 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 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.
