boy's name
Cailean
KAL-an (Scottish Gaelic)
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 1000 (Scotland)
- Births on record 551
Scotland
#498
2024 births
Cailean is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2014 it was given to 6 babies in the United States. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
- Peaked in Scotland in 2008, when 19 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in Scotland.
- Today about 1 in 6,355 babies in Scotland is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1984.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Cailean Over Time
Births per decade in Scotland, 1980s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2024.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 49 |
| 2000s | 111 |
| 2010s | 111 |
| 2020s (to 2024) | 59 |
How Popular Is Cailean?
In 2024, Cailean was given to 6 babies in Scotland, ranking #498 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Where Cailean Is Used
Figures for Scotland leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Cailean
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Cailean Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Cailean over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Cailean
- Scottish Gaelic KAL-an
Sibling Names for Cailean
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Cailean — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Cailean
How popular is the name Cailean?
In 2024, Cailean was given to 6 babies in Scotland, ranking #498 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Is Cailean a girl's or a boy's name?
Cailean is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Cailean?
Cailean has 2 syllables.
When was Cailean most popular?
Cailean peaked in 2008, when 19 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Cailean a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Cailean currently ranks #498 in Scotland. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.