Meaning: Powerful; possibly from Irish Gaelic Caoilfhinn (caol: slender + fionn: fair/white) or related to Kellner (German: waiter, servant); also a variant of Cillian (Irish: church)Medium
In 30 seconds: A name with possible Irish Gaelic roots (slender + fair) or German origins. It is part of the wave of -an/-on ending masculine names (Caelan, Lachlan, Declan) popular in the 2000s–2010s.
MeaningPowerful; possibly from Irish Gaelic Caoilfhinn (caol: slender + fionn: fair/white) or related to Kellner (German: waiter, servant); also a variant of Cillian (Irish: church)
Kellan may derive from Irish Gaelic Caoilfhinn (slender + fair), from the same root as Caelan. It may also relate to the German surname Kellner (waiter/servant) or be a variant of Irish Cillian (church). The exact origin is uncertain.
Kellan entered U.S. boys' charts in the 2000s and ranked #919 for boys in 2024.
Did you know? Kellan Lutz, who played Emmett Cullen in the Twilight saga, is the most prominent celebrity bearer — and the Twilight franchise's cultural reach in the 2000s gave many Twilight actors' names a notable boost on baby-name charts.
Overall data confidence 72%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data
Variations
KellenKellinCaelan
Nicknames
Kell
Famous Bearers
★Kellan Lutz(1985–present)
American actor known for playing Emmett Cullen in the Twilight saga (2008–2012).
If you like Kellan…
Caelan— Irish -an ending name possibly sharing the same caol root
Declan— Irish -an ending name with the same Celtic heritage
Lachlan— Scottish -an ending name in the same Celtic surname-name tradition
Cillian— the Irish church-name Kellan may relate to
Brennan— Irish -an ending name in the same popular boys' cohort
