Given name & surname
Quinlan
“one who is slender and very strong”·“a strong and healthy man”
Quinlan is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is slender and very strong” and “a strong and healthy man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is slender and very strong” and “a strong and healthy man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1977. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Quinlan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,296
- 2,561 boys · 735 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 174 babies
- 2025
- 50
- #3,921 for boys · #5,670 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 68% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 28 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,921 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 32.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 144 in 2006. It also appeared in 22 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,819 as a first name in 2020; 9,910 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.
Quinlan’s family of names
Quinlan has a related form in Quinlyn. Quinlan has a related form in Quinlin. Quinlan has a related form in Duinlania.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Quinlan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Maguire
“the son of the beige one”
56% boys · 44% girls
Shai
“a gift of God” · “a gift from God”
66% boys · 34% girls
Caelan
“a slender warrior; one who is slender and fair”
89% boys · 11% girls
Keegan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
90% boys · 10% girls
Kaelan
“a mighty warrior”
85% boys · 15% girls
Kamaree
66% boys · 34% girls
Keelin
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a slender and beautiful woman”
56% boys · 44% girls
Brogan
“one who is sturdy; reliable”
84% boys · 16% girls