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 August 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
- 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.