Kellan

Kellan - A very unique male name

Kellan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1982 on position #2137. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kellan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kellan? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kellan. The baby boy name Kellan was given to 165 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1033 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,887 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kellan peaked in popularity 15 years ago in 2011 on position 361.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kellan, 1-5?

Kellan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kellan is currently topping the baby name charts in Virginia at position #541 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,495.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kellan is where you live.

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Kellan origin and meaning

Irish and modern — origin disputed

Uncertain — Kellan is often explained as an anglicised Irish name or surname, sometimes linked to Caolán ('slender') or to the surname Ó Cealláin, but no derivation is secure; much of its use is modern

Kellan rose with the 2000s taste for two-syllable Irish-sounding boys' names, peaking in 2013 alongside actor Kellan Lutz's Twilight fame. Whether it is an old Irish name revived or a modern construction wearing Irish dress is genuinely unclear.

Origin uncertain

Kellan is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kellan, pop culture references for the name Kellan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kellan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kellan, sorted by popularity.

Kellen / Killian / Kylan / Kylen / Kylian / Kalen / Keelan / Kilian / Kallen / Kalani /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kellan

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kellan a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kellan?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KEL-uhn · /ˈkɛlən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Kellen — The -en spelling, at least as common.
• Kellyn — Y-spelling variant.

Nicknames: Kel

Famous bearers

• Kellan Lutz — American actor, known for the Twilight films (b. 1985) Contemporary

Style

InternationalModern coinage

Why parents choose it

Kellan has the friendly, athletic sound parents loved in the 2010s. It has fallen from its peak, so it is less crowded now.

Worth knowing

• Kellan/Kellen is a straight coin-flip spelling split.
• Websites state confident Irish meanings for Kellan that scholarship does not back up.