Unisex name · since 1990
Cailean
Since 1990, U.S. Social Security records show 68 babies named Cailean, peaking in 1995. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #19,994 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 68
- born since 1990
- 1990s
- peak decade
Cailean is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 68 have been recorded since 1990.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cailean has been recorded 68 times among boys since 1990, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1990 to 2014.
- #19,994 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 68 born since 1990
- 1990s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cailean ranks #19,994 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 68 born since 1990, peaking in the 1990s.
- #19,994 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 68
- born since 1990
- 1990s
- peak decade
Cailean's 68 recorded births place it above 55.85% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.
Cailean's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Cailean's SSA record in two at 2003 and the more recent half accounts for 41% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 59%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1990, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1995 peak of 11, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Cailean popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1990–2014
- Peak year (1995)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 25 years of records
Cailean popularity over time - girls
17 total births recorded since 2002 (Cailean as girls' name)
Cailean by decade
1990s is the heaviest window (40 births, 59% of the file).
1990s was Cailean's strongest decade.
40 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 59% of all-time use.
Cailean births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s
1990s
40 births
- 2000s
2000s
22 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 40 births (59% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Cailean? ▼
Where does Cailean sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Cailean most popular? ▼
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What to do with Cailean's data
- Cailean's decade-level peak was the 1990s (40 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Cailean
Nearby Names Like Cailean
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cailean
Compare Cailean side by side: Cailean vs Caiden Cailean vs Cairo Cailean vs Cain
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Cailean: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1995)
Similar record span (~24 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1990–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cailean draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.