Given name & surname · also Irish
Keelan
“a slender and beautiful woman”·“a slender man”
Keelan is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a slender and beautiful woman” (Irish) and “a slender man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a slender and beautiful woman” (Irish) and “a slender man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
From Irish Ó Céileacháin (“descendant of Céileachán”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1967. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Keelan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,942
- 3,591 boys · 351 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 152 babies
- 2025
- 55
- #2,463 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 95% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 55 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,463 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 33.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,060 as a first name in 2020; 765 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Keelan’s family of names
Keelan has a related form in Kelan. Keelan has a related form in Keelin. Keelan has a related form in Keilan.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Keelan
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Keelan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Keegan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
90% boys · 10% girls
Cavan
“a handsome man”
>99% boys
Caelan
“a slender warrior; one who is slender and fair”
89% boys · 11% girls
Conlan
“a hero”
>99% boys
Cowan
“from the hollow near the hill; one of twins”
>99% boys
Ean
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Kaelan
“a mighty warrior”
85% boys · 15% girls
Ewan
“the little swift one”
>99% boys