Hylan is a unique and distinctive given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the ancient Irish surname "O' Huilín", which is believed to have been borne by a sept of the Uí Fiachrach clan, located in what is now County Sligo. The name O' Huilín translates to "descendant of Huilín", with "Huilín" being an old Irish personal name thought to mean "holly" or "proud".
Throughout history, the name Hylan has been relatively rare, but it has appeared in various records and literature. One notable figure was Hylan McLaughlin, a prominent Scottish-American politician who served as the mayor of St. Louis, Missouri from 1901 to 1903.
Today, Hylan is still an uncommon given name, but it continues to be chosen by some parents looking for a unique and meaningful moniker for their children. As a unisex name, Hylan has been used for both boys and girls in recent years, though it remains more commonly associated with males.
The name Hylan has seen a varied pattern of usage over the years in the United States. Between 1923 and 2022, there were a total of 61 babies named Hylan. The name's popularity fluctuated significantly during this period.
In the early part of this timeframe, from 1923 to 1927, Hylan was given to 5 babies each year in 1923 and 1924, and then to another 5 babies in 1927. This suggests that the name had some level of recognition during this time.
After a gap of nearly seven decades, Hylan began to appear again on birth records. In 1995, 6 babies were named Hylan, marking a resurgence of interest in this name. This trend continued with another 6 babies being named Hylan in 2012.
However, the usage of Hylan as a baby name has not been consistent throughout these years. After 1995 and 2012, there were periods where fewer babies were given this name: 5 births in both 2013 and 2014, followed by 7 births in 2016. The most recent data available shows that Hylan was the chosen name for 6 babies born in 2020 and another 6 in 2022.
Overall, while Hylan has not been a consistently popular name over time, it has seen periods of renewed interest, with the most recent years showing an uptick in usage. Despite its fluctuations, the name Hylan continues to be used among parents who choose to bestow this distinctive moniker upon their children.