Cailan
Boy · KAY-lan · Scottish
Cailan is a boys' name of Scottish origin, meaning “young hound, whelp”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Cailan mean?
Scottish: spelling of Cailean, the Gaelic name behind Colin
“young hound, whelp”
From Cailean, the Gaelic name anglicised as Colin; the Campbell chief's Gaelic title is MacCailein Mòr.
- Say it
- KAY-lan
Is Cailan a girl's or a boy's name?
Cailan is a boys' name.
How popular is Cailan in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2005, with 20 boys.
Half of all the boys named Cailan in the UK since 1996 were born between 2005 and 2014, the years shaded on the chart below.
Cailan in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | #2,965 |
| 2022 | 10 | #2,279 |
| 2021 | 8 | #2,619 |
| 2020 | 0 | – |
| 2019 | 2 | #6,181 |
| 2018 | 5 | #3,596 |
| 2017 | 7 | #2,875 |
| 2016 | 10 | #2,287 |
| 2015 | 6 | #3,149 |
| 2014 | 13 | #1,834 |
| 2013 | 15 | #1,636 |
| 2012 | 15 | #1,692 |
| 2011 | 7 | #2,736 |
| 2010 | 12 | #1,887 |
| 2009 | 9 | #2,241 |
| 2008 | 12 | #1,810 |
| 2007 | 4 | #3,748 |
| 2006 | 13 | #1,558 |
| 2005 | 20 | #1,133 |
| 2004 | 11 | #1,583 |
| 2003 | 4 | #2,990 |
| 2002 | 4 | #2,751 |
| 2001 | 9 | #1,547 |
| 2000 | 4 | #2,612 |
| 1999 | 1 | #3,925 |
| 1998 | 6 | #1,932 |
| 1997 | 6 | #1,853 |
How popular is Cailan in the US?
No boys in the US were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2012, with 15 boys. It first appears in the records in 1999.
Half of all the boys named Cailan in the US since 1880 were born between 2007 and 2016, the years shaded on the chart below.
Cailan in the US, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | #8,307 |
| 2023 | 6 | #10,815 |
| 2022 | 7 | #9,815 |
| 2021 | 7 | #9,709 |
| 2020 | 5 | #12,016 |
| 2019 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | 0 | – |
| 2017 | 7 | #9,691 |
| 2016 | 6 | #10,739 |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 8 | #8,775 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7,021 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5,714 |
| 2011 | 9 | #8,072 |
| 2010 | 10 | #7,585 |
| 2009 | 8 | #8,980 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7,182 |
| 2007 | 12 | #6,618 |
| 2006 | 9 | #7,992 |
| 2005 | 6 | #10,144 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7,530 |
| 2003 | 5 | #10,886 |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 9 | #6,928 |
| 2000 | 0 | – |
| 1999 | 5 | #9,905 |
Nicknames for Cailan
- Cal 10 boys in the UK in 2025
Names like Cailan
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Finn Kayden Aiden Conan Brody Caelan Ronan Declan Lochlan Conlan Keegan Kian
Names related to Cailan
Cillian Callan Caolan Cailean Kailan Calan Caylan Calian Calihan Calin
More Scottish names
Isla Finley Logan Arabella Cameron Bonnie Paisley Carson Maxwell Brodie Finlay Blair Lennox Skye Knox Dallas