UK name, mostly girls
Keelin
An Irish name meaning "slender and beautiful".
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.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 7 boys.
Keelin is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Keelin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 10 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1998 to 2020. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Keelin. 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
- • Keelin ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 10 girls were registered as Keelin.
- • Keelin is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keelin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 83.3% of Keelin registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
10 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Keelin
In England and Wales birth records, Keelin has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 16.7% of registrations are for boys and 83.3% 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.
Keelin registered for boys
- Ranked #4,333 in 2007
- 3 boys registered in 2007
- Peak: 2003 (4 births)
Keelin registered for girls
- Ranked #5,493 in 2020
- 3 girls registered in 2020
- Peak: 2000 (10 births)
Meaning
What does Keelin mean?
The name Keelin has its origins in Irish Gaelic, derived from the word "caol", which means "slender" or "graceful". It is believed to have been in use since the early medieval period, particularly in Ireland and Scotland.
Keelin was a popular name among the Celtic population, often given to children with a slender or delicate appearance. The name's association with grace and beauty made it a favored choice for many families.
In ancient Irish folklore and mythology, there are references to characters with names similar to Keelin, such as Caoilinn, a legendary warrior princess renowned for her beauty and bravery.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keelin dates back to the 12th century, when a Irish monk named Keelin O'Mulvany is mentioned in historical records as a renowned scholar and scribe.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Keelin. One such figure was Keelin O'Reilly (1580-1653), an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Reilly clan during the Confederate Wars in the 17th century.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Keelin Giligan (1778-1841), an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a respected landowner and community leader in Pennsylvania.
In the realm of literature, Keelin O'Donnell (1901-1976) was an Irish writer and poet whose works celebrated the beauty of the Irish landscape and culture.
The name also gained recognition in the field of sports with Keelin Shanley (1942-2018), an Irish hurler who represented County Waterford and was part of the Munster Championship-winning team in the 1960s.
Lastly, Keelin Delaney (1956-present) is a renowned Irish broadcaster and journalist, known for her work as a presenter on RTÉ News and Current Affairs programs.
While the name Keelin may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and associations with grace, beauty, and strength have made it a cherished part of Irish and Celtic heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Keelin over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Keelin in England and Wales, from 1998 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 Keelin, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keelin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keelin 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 | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3909 | 23 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3146 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Keelin
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Keelin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keelin in the UK right now?
In 2020, Keelin was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Keelin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 10 babies registered as Keelin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keelin?
An Irish name meaning "slender and beautiful".
How many people are called Keelin in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Keelin across the 8 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.