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Kaelan

Boy name · 78 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kaelan: 78 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 9 births in 2024.

Kaelan is a modern anglicised form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Caolán, derived from *caol* meaning "slender" or "narrow." It shares its root with the Irish name Caoilfhionn, meaning "slender and fair," and is often considered a variant of the more common Kaylan or Kaelin. While no famous historical bearers immediately spring to mind, the name has gained quiet popularity in Scotland since the 1990s, particularly in its Gaelic heartlands. The root *caol* also appears in place names like the Kyles of Bute, the narrow sea straits off Scotland's west coast. Kaelan is sometimes confused with the Irish name Caelan, which may derive from *cael* meaning "slender" or "narrow," but the two are distinct in origin.

Boy 16 of 52 years

Peak year
20249 babies
Latest (2025)
#6474 babies
Total births
78since 2005
5-year trend
▲ 38%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 · 9
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).