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Callaghan

Quick answerThe given name 'Callaghan' is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallacháin, meaning "descendant of Ceallachán," where Ceallachán is a diminutive of the Old Irish personal name *Ceallach*, likely meaning "bright-headed" or "strife." It is primarily used in Irish and Scottish cultures, with no specific…

Ireland · Boy · 3 syllables

C
Top 5,000

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#3,002
TrendRising ↑
Peak year2025
Syllables3
OriginIreland
LanguageIrish
CultureIrish
Letters9
Numerology5 Chaldean 7
Global rank#715

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Callaghan

The given name 'Callaghan' is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallacháin, meaning "descendant of Ceallachán," where Ceallachán is a diminutive of the Old Irish personal name *Ceallach*, likely meaning "bright-headed" or "strife." It is primarily used in Irish and Scottish cultures, with no specific religious association, and historically refers to the ruling dynasty of the Eóganacht Chaisil in medieval Munster, notably King Cellachán of Cashel (10th century).

Cross-referenced with Behind the Name. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The given name 'Callaghan' is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallacháin, meaning "descendant of Ceallachán," where Ceallachán is a diminutive of the Old Irish personal name *Ceallach*, likely meaning "bright-headed" or "strife." It is primarily used in Irish and Scottish cultures, with no specific religious association, and historically refers to the ruling dynasty of the Eóganacht Chaisil in medieval Munster, notably King Cellachán of Cashel (10th century).

Callaghan currently ranks #3,002 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2025.

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