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At a Glance
- Meaning
- From Irish surnames of two possible origins: either 'fair/shapely one' (Ó Caoindealbháin, from caoin 'gentle, fair' + dealbh 'form, shape') or a diminutive of the name Conall (Ó Conalláin)
- Origin
- Irish
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- KWIN-luhn
Quinlan (pronounced KWIN-luhn) is a unisex, Irish name that traces back to surnames with two possible roots: Ó Caoindealbháin, built from words meaning "gentle" and "form" or "shape," or a diminutive of the name Conall. You may see it listed elsewhere as meaning "descendant of the hound," but the etymology doesn't actually back that up — that idea likely comes from mixing Quinlan up with Conall's own hound-related folklore.
Meaning & Origin of Quinlan
Meaning: From Irish surnames of two possible origins: either 'fair/shapely one' (Ó Caoindealbháin, from caoin 'gentle, fair' + dealbh 'form, shape') or a diminutive of the name Conall (Ó Conalláin).
Origin: Irish.
A common claim: Widely listed on baby-name sites as meaning 'descendant of the hound' Actually: Quinlan actually traces to Ó Caoindealbháin ('gentle' + 'form') or as a diminutive of the name Conall — not to a word for 'hound.' The hound association likely comes from confusion with Conall's own folk etymology (cú, 'hound').
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Quinlan
KWIN-luhnIPA /ˈkwɪnlən/
Popularity of Quinlan
Quinlan hit its high point in 2006, ranking #1176 with 144 babies given the name; by 2024 it had slipped to #3659, with just 31 babies.
Names Like Quinlan
These names share Quinlan’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Quinlan mean?
From Irish surnames of two possible origins: either ‘fair/shapely one’ (Ó Caoindealbháin, from caoin ‘gentle, fair’ + dealbh ‘form, shape’) or a diminutive of the name Conall (Ó Conalláin). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Quinlan?
Quinlan is pronounced KWIN-luhn (IPA: /ˈkwɪnlən/).
Is Quinlan a popular name right now?
Quinlan peaked at #1176 in 2006 and is ranked #3659 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1977–2024.)
Make Quinlan Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Quinlan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Quinlan? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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