What does Lorcan mean?
Lorcan means “little fierce one.”
What does Faolan mean?
From the Irish 'faol' ('wolf') and the diminutive suffix '-an', meaning 'little wolf'. Borne by several early Irish saints; anglicised as Phelan or Whelan.
Lorcan vs Faolan
Which is more popular?
Lorcan is more popular than Faolan today: about 9 US babies were given the name Lorcan in 2025, compared with 0 named Faolan.
| Lorcan | Faolan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little fierce one | little wolf |
| Origin | Irish | irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LOR-kun | FWAY-lawn |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1997 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2018 (17) | 2023 (23) |
| In 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lorcan
Faolan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lorcan | Faolan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 74 | 72 |
| 2010s | 95 | 100 |
| 2000s | 74 | 25 |
| 1990s | 18 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lorcan or Faolan more popular?
Lorcan is more popular than Faolan today: about 9 US babies were given the name Lorcan in 2025, compared with 0 named Faolan.
What is the difference between Lorcan and Faolan?
Lorcan means Little fierce one (Irish origin), while Faolan means little wolf (irish origin).
Which name is older, Lorcan or Faolan?
In US records, Lorcan first appears in 1997 and Faolan in 0, so Faolan has the longer recorded history.