Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Kellan as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kellan

Add to my Name List

The baby name Kellan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KEL-ən (IPA: /ˈkɛlən/).

Kellan is Gaelic, Irish in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Gaelic, Irish
Pronunciation: KEL-ən (IPA: /ˈkɛlən/)

What is the meaning of the name Kellan ?

The baby name Kellan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KEL-ən (IPA: /ˈkɛlən/).

Kellan is Gaelic, Irish in Origin.

Kellan is a modern English given name with Gaelic roots. It is most commonly explained as an Anglicized form of Irish Caolán, from caol "slender, narrow" plus the diminutive -án, yielding the sense "little slender one." Some etymologies also connect it to Irish surnames based on Ceallach, a personal name interpreted as "war/strife" or "bright-headed," so multiple shades of meaning circulate in use.

As a first name, Kellan spread in the English-speaking world in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with a noticeable bump after actor Kellan Lutz came to prominence. Traditional Gaelic usage favors Caolán, while common Anglicizations include Keelan and Kealan; modern spellings and cognates include Kellen, Kelan, Kellin, and Kaelan. The name is predominantly masculine but used unisex in some regions. Short forms such as Kel are occasional. Related Irish forms include Caolán and the anglicized Keelan.

Kellan has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kellan

Kellan Lutz Actor · Born 1985 · United States Kellan Lutz is an American actor best known for his role as Emmett Cullen in the Twilight film series. He has also appeared in movies like The Legend of Hercules and The Expendables 3. Born in 1985, Lutz has built a career in action and fantasy films.

Kellan – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2015 #1 738
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
Canada Boys 2024 #290 17 2,588
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
MU Boys 0 #367 3 8,477
France Boys 2021 #376 12 2,865
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
ZA 0 #472 3 14,421
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
AE Girls 0 #597 1 20,968
United States Boys 2024 #644 252 7,044
HK Girls 0 #647 4 16,104
IQ Boys 0 #649 19 13,071
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
United States Girls 2024 #911 6 8,487
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
PE Boys 0 #925 2 14,506
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
ZA Boys 0 #1,159 20 25,619
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
MA 0 #1,199 1 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,235 2 25,928
TR 0 #1,253 2 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
SA Boys 0 #1,689 3 28,008

Kellan is popular in 27 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
France
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Kellan

Kellan is predominantly a boy's name.
Kellan is a 2 syllable name, pronounced KEL-ən (IPA: /ˈkɛlən/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kellen, Kellin, Kelan, Keelan, Kaelan and Caelan.
Yes, very popular — Kellan ranked #1 in Ireland in 2015, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Kellan ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2015).
Kellan's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #256 in 2014 to #290 in 2024 in Canada.
Yes — 1 notable people named Kellan are in our database, including Kellan Lutz (Actor).