Callan
Borrowed from Irish Ó Cathaláin (“descendant of Cathalán”).
Every Callan since 1957 — 12,634 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Callan
Callan is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #190 in 2025 with 1,917 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1957, 12,634 American babies have been named Callan — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 1,983 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Callan stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Callan year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 66 | #2,616 | 1,917 | #190 |
| 2024 | 53 | #3,056 | 1,455 | #242 |
| 2023 | 60 | #2,828 | 983 | #339 |
| 2022 | 45 | #3,485 | 930 | #354 |
| 2021 | 52 | #3,122 | 868 | #374 |
| 2020 | 29 | #4,568 | 686 | #434 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5,185 | 542 | #525 |
| 2018 | 45 | #3,447 | 465 | #589 |
| 2017 | 31 | #4,497 | 365 | #684 |
| 2016 | 34 | #4,273 | 332 | #736 |
| 2015 | 29 | #4,750 | 365 | #687 |
| 2014 | 29 | #4,796 | 384 | #668 |
| 2013 | 35 | #4,177 | 286 | #788 |
| 2012 | 31 | #4,629 | 263 | #830 |
| 2011 | 38 | #3,930 | 234 | #886 |
| 2010 | 25 | #5,453 | 153 | #1,180 |
| 2009 | 23 | #5,927 | 81 | #1,828 |
| 2008 | 34 | #4,473 | 83 | #1,794 |
| 2007 | 32 | #4,585 | 76 | #1,878 |
| 2006 | 23 | #5,749 | 50 | #2,454 |
| 2005 | 18 | #6,589 | 41 | #2,667 |
| 2004 | 28 | #4,725 | 54 | #2,166 |
| 2003 | 29 | #4,443 | 42 | #2,479 |
| 2002 | 26 | #4,658 | 44 | #2,341 |
| 2001 | 27 | #4,468 | 42 | #2,351 |
| 2000 | 32 | #3,897 | 29 | #3,005 |
| 1995 | 42 | #2,849 | 15 | #4,079 |
| 1990 | 41 | #2,808 | 21 | #2,968 |
| 1985 | 20 | #3,999 | 6 | #5,892 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | 6 | #4,866 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Callan
- Callan Mulvey Actor · b. 1975
- Callan McAuliffe Actor · b. 1995
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Callan mean?
Borrowed from Irish Ó Cathaláin (“descendant of Cathalán”).
How popular is the name Callan in 2025?
Callan ranked #190 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,917 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Callan?
12,634 babies have been named Callan in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Callan most popular?
Callan peaked in 2025, when 1,983 newborns received the name.
Is Callan a boy or girl name?
Callan is used for both: about 12% of babies named Callan have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Callan rising or falling?
Callan is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Callan?
Well-known people named Callan include Callan Mulvey (actor), Callan McAuliffe (actor).