NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Delan

Of Welsh origin, meaning "descendant of the elm tree".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Delan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Delan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 5 births.

This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2005 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Delan. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Delan ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 5 boys were registered as Delan.
  • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Delan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4810

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2005

5 births

Estimated living

26

2026

Meaning

What does Delan mean?

The name Delan originated from the ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Europe during the Iron Age, around 800 BC to 1 BC. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic root word "del," meaning "to strike" or "to wound," suggesting a warrior-like connotation.

Delan was a relatively common name among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the regions now known as Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England. It was often given to male children born during times of conflict or to those destined for a life of combat or hunting.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Delan can be found in the ancient Celtic epic poem, "The Cattle Raid of Cooley," which dates back to the 8th century AD. In this epic, Delan is mentioned as a brave warrior who fought alongside the legendary Irish hero, Cú Chulainn.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Delan. One of the most famous was Delan of Leighlin (550-639 AD), an Irish abbot and saint who founded the monastery of Leighlin in County Carlow, Ireland. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, and his feast day is celebrated on January 18th.

Another prominent figure was Delan the Scribe (c. 1100-1180), a medieval Irish monk and chronicler who authored several important manuscripts, including the "Book of Leinster," a collection of ancient Irish tales and genealogies.

In the 14th century, Delan ap Rhys (c. 1310-1378) was a Welsh nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Wars of Welsh Independence against the English crown.

During the Renaissance period, Delan Fiammingo (c. 1480-1545) was a renowned Italian painter and sculptor from the city of Florence, known for his intricate terracotta works and frescoes adorning several churches in Italy.

In more recent times, Delan Redjep (1939-2017) was an Albanian writer and poet whose works explored themes of national identity, freedom, and the human condition. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential literary figures in modern Albanian literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Delan over time

The chart below shows babies named Delan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Delan, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Delan
01345200520102016

Decades

Delan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Delan 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
2010s #4284 14 4
2000s #3517 12 3

Related

Names similar to Delan

FAQ

Delan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Delan in the UK right now?

In 2016, Delan was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Delan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 5 babies registered as Delan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Delan?

Of Welsh origin, meaning "descendant of the elm tree".

How many people are called Delan in the UK?

A total of 26 babies have been registered as Delan across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.