Calin
Calin was the 6190th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 2011, when it ranked 2082nd with 64 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,263 places. More babies were named Calin in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Callan) Origin uncertain · Irish, Scottish Gaelic
- Rank in 2025
- #6,190 boys, down 1,894 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 14boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201164 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,390babies recorded
What does the name Calin mean?
Calin is a spelling of Callan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Callan's meaning and origin.
Callan is an Irish and Scottish surname. Wiktionary and Wikipedia derive it from Ó Cathaláin, 'descendant of Cathalán', a pet form of the Irish name Cathal; Wikipedia adds that it can also come from the Gaelic Mac Allin or Mac Callin. Cathal is usually explained as 'strong in battle', but our sources do not give that gloss. As a first name it is a recent transfer from the surname.
Ó Cathaláin (Irish, “descendant of Cathalán”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several Gaelic surname sources; no gloss for Cathalán in our sources.
Related names: Callen, Callum, Cathal.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Callan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Callan', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Calin popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | #6,190 | — | 14 |
| 2020 | — | #4,296 | — | 23 |
| 2010 | #10,571 | #3,080 | 10 | 37 |
| 2000 | #12,011 | #3,437 | 7 | 24 |
| 1990 | — | #3,072 | — | 20 |
| 1980 | — | #6,380 | — | 5 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | #4,107 | — | 5 |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Calin, counting every spelling?
Calin is a spelling of Callan, a name family that ranked #144 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #6,190 for Calin on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,653 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callan | 1,917 | #190 | 6,153 |
| Callen | 579 | #516 | 3,235 |
| Kallan | 82 | #1,912 | 313 |
| Calen | 35 | #3,323 | 228 |
| Calin | 14 | #6,190 | 110 |
| Kalin | 14 | #6,274 | 79 |
| Kallin | 7 | #10,185 | 30 |
| Callon | 5 | #12,352 | 28 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Calin?
14 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Calin (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Calin born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 596 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Calin.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Calin?
About 1,100 people born in the US named Calin are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 12 and 30. That makes Calin mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Calin: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Calin, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Calin
What does Calin mean?
The origin of Callan is uncertain: several Gaelic surname sources; no gloss for Cathalán in our sources.
How popular is the name Calin?
Calin was the 6190th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 2011, when it ranked 2082nd with 64 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,263 places. More babies were named Calin in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Calin a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Calin in the US.