Pronunciation
Kee-lin
Meaning
Slender and fair
Related forms: Caoilfhionn (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Caoilfhionn; Caoilinn
Fun fact
Keelin is an Anglicised form of Caoilfhionn. Caol means slender and fionn means fair. It's often grouped with Keelan on name lists, but the fuller Irish forms show why they have slightly different meanings.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Keelin, 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 | 4 | #718 |
| 2024 | 6 | #556 |
| 2023 | 8 | #445 |
| 2022 | 9 | #420 |
| 2021 | 14 | #299 |
| 2020 | 12 | #336 |
| 2019 | 3 | #871 |
| 2018 | 13 | #336 |
| 2017 | 8 | #471 |
| 2016 | 13 | #335 |
| 2015 | 13 | #362 |
| 2014 | 11 | #404 |
| 2013 | 14 | #340 |
| 2012 | 20 | #250 |
| 2011 | 36 | #166 |
| 2010 | 28 | #205 |
| 2009 | 52 | #126 |
| 2008 | 42 | #144 |
| 2007 | 40 | #153 |
| 2006 | 31 | #161 |
| 2005 | 33 | #138 |
| 2004 | 13 | #272 |
| 2003 | 7 | #403 |
| 2002 | 7 | #374 |
| 2001 | 9 | #315 |
| 2000 | 13 | #251 |
| 1999 | 8 | #294 |
| 1998 | 8 | #293 |
| 1997 | 4 | #496 |
| 1996 | 4 | #471 |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1993 | 6 | #385 |
| 1992 | 7 | #363 |
| 1991 | 3 | #515 |
| 1990 | 3 | #517 |
| 1989 | 5 | #408 |
| 1988 | 5 | #407 |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
| 1986 | 5 | #422 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
| 1984 | 4 | #459 |
| 1983 | 6 | #401 |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | 6 | #386 |
| 1980 | 7 | #370 |
| 1979 | 5 | #420 |
| 1978 | 8 | #348 |
| 1977 | 6 | #391 |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | 7 | #340 |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | 3 | #443 |
| 1968 | 3 | #401 |
| 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.
