This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: 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 – 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
Phonetic: KWIN-luhn IPA: /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.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
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, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Quinlan)
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.)
📊 How popular is Quinlan? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Quinlan
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
