Whelan
Meaningwolf · Irish
- US rank
- #8,243
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #5,874 in 2022
9 babies were named Whelan in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 2011–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Whelan you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 188,679 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Whelan, 9 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Whelan would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWhelan first shows up in US birth records in 2011, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #5,874.
- New on the sceneWhelan wasn't given to enough babies to be counted in 2000. It only took off after 2011.
- MeaningIn Irish, Whelan means “wolf”. Our records link it to Celtic and Irish roots.
About the name Whelan
Whelan is a boy name of Celtic and Irish origin meaning “wolf”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-lan”. US birth records list Whelan for boys from 2011 to 2025, in 11 of those 15 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #5,874 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #8,243, with 9 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.2 | 454,545 boys |
| 2020s | 4.4 | 225,564 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Whelan
What does the name Whelan mean?
Whelan means “wolf” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Whelan?
Whelan has Celtic, Irish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Whelan a boy or girl name?
Whelan is a boy name.
How popular is the name Whelan?
Whelan ranked #8,243 for US boys in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#5,874).