How to say it
CAL · lan
ˈkæl.ən
Masculine
Callan
Battle, or 'rock'
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Cathaláin or Ó Cailleán, from cathal ('battle') or caileán ('young dog'). The Irish town of Callan in Kilkenny carries the same root. Used as a modern US first name with Irish-revival appeal.
Callan is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cathaláin or Ó Cailleán, with two competing roots: cathal ('battle, fight') or caileán ('young dog, whelp'). The Irish town of Callan in County Kilkenny carries the same root and was the seat of the Anglo-Norman Butler family in medieval times. As a US first name Callan is American and modern: rare before 2010, climbing since with the broader Irish-revival naming wave (alongside Declan, Ronan, Finn, Liam). It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Common short: Cal.
How to spell Callan
The standard spelling is Callan. Common variants include Callen, Cullen, but Callan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #190 in 2025, currently #190 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Callan (Irish), Callen (the modern US respelling), and Cullen (a separate Irish name meaning 'holly') are sometimes confused; Callan and Callen are the same name.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Callan Mulvey Australian actor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Batman v Superman
Spelling variants
- Callen
- Cullen
Names with the same feeling
See Callan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Callan mean?
- Anglicized Irish surname Ó Cathaláin or Ó Cailleán, from cathal ('battle') or caileán ('young dog'). The Irish town of Callan in Kilkenny carries the same root. Used as a modern US first name with Irish-revival appeal.
- What does Callan mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Callan means "Battle, or 'rock'." Callan is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cathaláin or Ó Cailleán, with two competing roots: cathal ('battle, fight') or caileán ('young dog, whelp'). The Irish town of Callan in County Kilkenny carries the same root and was the seat of the Anglo-Norman Butler family in medieval times. As a US first name Callan is American and modern: rare before 2010, climbing since with the broader Irish-revival naming wave (alongside Declan, Ronan, Finn, Liam). It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Common short: Cal.
- How do you pronounce Callan?
- Callan is pronounced ˈkæl.ən. Say it as CAL-lan, with the stress on the "cal" syllable.
- How do you spell Callan?
- The standard spelling is Callan. Common spelling variants include Callen, Cullen.
- Is Callan a boy or girl name?
- Callan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Callan?
- Callan ranked #190 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.