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Home › Baby Names Directory › Quinlan

Quinlan

♂ Boy

Pronounced KWIN-lən /ˈkwɪn.lən/High

Meaning: From Irish Ó Caoindealbháin, 'descendant of Caoindealbhán' — linked to 'gracefully shaped, well-formed, strong'Medium

In 30 seconds: Gracefully strong and well-formed: Quinlan is an Irish surname with a poetic root — and a built-in Quinn. Handsome, Celtic, and substantial, with crisp modern surname-cool.
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Origin MediumIrish
MeaningFrom Irish Ó Caoindealbháin, 'descendant of Caoindealbhán' — linked to 'gracefully shaped, well-formed, strong'
U.S. rank (2025)#3921 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births28 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,560

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200619772025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Quinlan comes from Irish Ó Caoindealbháin, 'descendant of Caoindealbhán' — from caoin, 'gentle, graceful', and dealbh, 'form, shape' — 'gracefully shaped, well-formed, strong'. A handsome Irish surname-name with the bonus nickname Quinn.

In the U.S. it appears in Irish-heritage and surname-loving families. Rare, gracefully-formed at the root, and Celtic-handsome.

Did you know? Quinlan's Irish root caoin means 'gentle, graceful' and dealbh 'form, shape' — so the name describes someone gracefully and well-formed, with the popular Quinn tucked inside.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Quinlan — etymology

Variations

QuinlinQuinlyn

Nicknames

QuinnQuin

Famous Bearers

  • ★Quinlan Terry (1937-)
    British classical architect known for his neoclassical country houses and public buildings

If you like Quinlan…

Quinn— the nickname within it
Donovan— another handsome Irish name
Callan— lands in the same popularity range
Kiernan— lands in the same popularity range
Brogan— shares the -an ending

Explore names like Quinlan

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Quinlan mean?

Quinlan is Irish, 'descendant of Caoindealbhán', linked to 'gracefully shaped, well-formed, strong'.

How do you pronounce Quinlan?

It's said KWIN-lən /ˈkwɪn.lən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Quinlan a boy or girl name?

Quinlan is mainly a boy's name.

How popular is Quinlan?

Quinlan is a rare name in the U.S.

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