Olan is a unique and uncommon name of Irish origin. It is derived from the ancient Irish name "Ólann," which was borne by several early Irish saints. The meaning of Olan is believed to be "descendant of Alan," with Alan being an old Breton personal name that means "little rock" or "harmonious."
The name Olan has a rich history in Ireland, with several prominent figures bearing this name throughout the centuries. One of the most notable was Saint Olan, who was a 7th-century bishop of Connacht. He is said to have founded the monastery at Clonmacnoise, which is now a popular tourist attraction and an important historical site.
Another famous bearer of the name Olan was Olan O'Rourke, who was the chief of the O'Rourkes, a powerful Irish clan in the 14th century. The O'Rourkes were known for their fierce independence and resistance to English rule during that time.
Today, Olan remains a rare and distinctive name, but it continues to be celebrated as a strong Irish heritage name with deep historical roots. It is often associated with strength, courage, and Irish pride. Despite its rarity, the name Olan has a unique charm and character that makes it stand out among other names.
The name Olan has been given to a total of 2696 babies born in the United States since 1895. The popularity of the name has varied over time, with peaks in certain years and valleys in others.
From 1895 to 1924, Olan was quite popular, with more than 50 births each year except for a few years where it ranged from 37 to 67 births. The highest number of births in this period was in 1920, with 69 babies named Olan.
However, starting from 1925, the popularity of the name began to decline significantly. There were fewer than 50 births per year for Olan except for a few years where it ranged from 30 to 48 births. The lowest number of births was in 1956, with only 14 babies named Olan.
From the 1960s to the late 1970s, there were around 10-20 births per year for Olan. But starting from the early 1980s, the number of births began to rise again, with peaks in certain years such as 1989 (12 births), 2000 (10 births), and 2004 (14 births).
In recent years, Olan has seen a significant resurgence in popularity. From 2013 onwards, the number of births has consistently been above 15 each year, with peaks in certain years such as 2018 (27 births) and 2021 (30 births).
Overall, while Olan may not have been a particularly popular name throughout its history, it has seen periods of significant popularity and continues to be given to babies born in the United States today.