UK name, mostly boys
Corran
A Celtic baby name meaning "spear bearer" or "he who has a spear".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Corran is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Corran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 7 births.
This profile covers 81 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 190 living people in the UK are called Corran. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Corran ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 7 boys were registered as Corran.
- • Corran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #268 in 2024.
- • About 190 living people in the UK are estimated to have Corran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 88.0% of Corran registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
7 births
Estimated living
190
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Corran
In England and Wales birth records, Corran has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 88.0% of registrations are for boys and 12.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Corran registered for boys
- Ranked #4,608 in 2020
- 3 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 2001 (7 births)
Corran registered for girls
- Ranked #4,137 in 2002
- 3 girls registered in 2002
- Peak: 1997 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Corran mean?
The name Corran is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, with roots tracing back to ancient Celtic cultures in Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "corran," meaning "little crane" or "heron." This connection to the graceful wading bird suggests a reverence for nature and the natural world.
In early medieval times, the name Corran was primarily used in Irish and Scottish Gaelic-speaking regions. Historical records indicate that it was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, where Gaelic culture and traditions were deeply rooted.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Corran can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Corran mac Fergusa, who was a prominent leader in the Kingdom of Dál Riata (present-day western Scotland and parts of northeastern Ireland) in the 7th century.
Corran has also been associated with various historical figures throughout the centuries. In the 12th century, Corran of Clonroad was a renowned Irish poet and bard who composed works in praise of Irish kings and nobility. Another notable figure was Corran Oge MacDermott, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the MacDermott clan in County Sligo, Ireland.
In Scotland, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Corran Erskine, a 17th-century Scottish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
Another prominent figure was Corran Maclean, a 19th-century Scottish poet and Gaelic scholar from the Isle of Mull. He was celebrated for his contributions to preserving and promoting the Gaelic language and culture through his literary works.
While the name Corran may have ancient origins, it has continued to be used throughout history, with notable individuals bearing this name in various fields, including art, literature, and politics. Some examples include Corran Naidoo, a South African anti-apartheid activist and lawyer, and Corran Ferguson, a contemporary Canadian actor known for his roles in television and film.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Corran over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Corran in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Corran, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Corran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Corran was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4002 | 28 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2645 | 33 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2371 | 17 | 4 |
Geography
Where Corran is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Corran. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Corran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #268 in 2024.
Across the UK
Corran in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#268 in 2024
17 years of NRS records, 107 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#387 in 2010
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Corran
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Corran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Corran in the UK right now?
In 2020, Corran was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Corran most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 7 babies registered as Corran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Corran?
A Celtic baby name meaning "spear bearer" or "he who has a spear".
How many people are called Corran in the UK?
A total of 81 babies have been registered as Corran across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 107 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Corran most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Corran ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #268 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.