Fun Facts About the Name Kailan
- More than 1 thousand babies named Kailan: U.S. records list 1,116 babies given the name Kailan from 1880 through 2025. Even 519 girls received the name Kailan.
What Does the Name Kailan Mean?
Kailan is an English given name whose most established etymology is Irish. It is a modern spelling of Caelan, an Anglicized form of Irish Caolán, a diminutive of caol 'slender, narrow.' The diminutive suffix -án gives the sense 'little slender one' or simply 'slender one.' A separate association is sometimes made with Hawaiian Kailani, from kai 'sea' and lani 'sky, heaven,' meaning 'sea and sky.' Kailan is occasionally used as a short form of Kailani, but the Hawaiian meaning belongs to the longer name; it is not an inherited meaning of Kailan itself.
Kailan Name History & Origins
The Irish Caolán was later Anglicized in forms such as Keelan and Caelan. Kailan is an English spelling variant of Caelan, with ai representing the long a sound. In Hawaiian, Kailani is a traditional compound name; Kailan appears in English-speaking use as a shortened or respelled form of that name, but it is not the standard Hawaiian spelling. The name is used for both boys and girls, with the Caelan tradition often masculine and Kailani often feminine.
How Popular is the Name Kailan?
Kailan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #2,887 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,512 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #9,845 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #11,661 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #12,845 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #11,602 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #11,575 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #11,851 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #9,453 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #13,353 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #10,452 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #7,114 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #7,858 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #9,900 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #5,031 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #4,505 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2010 | #4,348 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #3,984 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2008 | #4,810 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2007 | #10,448 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #9,581 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #6,404 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #12,140 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #10,837 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #7,613 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #14,371 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #7,348 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #7,012 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #5,924 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #7,049 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #5,392 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #6,096 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #7,322 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #6,813 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #9,909 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #14,162 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #13,970 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #9,137 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #9,724 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,896 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #2,887 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2023 | #2,974 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 2022 | #2,888 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2021 | #4,307 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2020 | #4,344 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #3,760 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2018 | #4,537 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,021 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #5,671 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #5,170 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #4,325 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #5,793 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #5,372 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #5,813 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #5,363 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #5,027 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #5,362 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #6,857 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #7,177 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #5,158 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #4,507 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #11,813 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #5,022 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #7,209 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #7,820 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #5,491 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #6,066 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #7,692 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #5,356 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #5,322 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #9,551 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #6,227 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #7,626 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kailan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Kailan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kailan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.