What does Phelan mean?
Anglicised form of the Irish Faolan (via the surname O Faolain), from 'faol' ('wolf') plus the diminutive suffix '-an', meaning 'little wolf' or 'wolf cub'.
What does Ruairi mean?
Ruairí means “red king” in Irish.
Phelan vs Ruairi
Which is more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Phelan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 0 named Phelan.
| Phelan | Ruairi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | little wolf | Red king |
| Origin | irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | FEE-lan | ROO-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1988 |
| Peak year | 1996 (26) | 2022 (21) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 17 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Phelan
Ruairi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Phelan | Ruairi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 52 | 99 |
| 2010s | 95 | 91 |
| 2000s | 115 | 60 |
| 1990s | 163 | 33 |
| 1980s | 80 | 6 |
| 1970s | 60 | 0 |
| 1960s | 5 | 0 |
| 1950s | 5 | 0 |
| 1940s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Phelan or Ruairi more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Phelan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 0 named Phelan.
What is the difference between Phelan and Ruairi?
Phelan means little wolf (irish origin), while Ruairi means Red king (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Phelan or Ruairi?
In US records, Phelan first appears in 0 and Ruairi in 1988, so Phelan has the longer recorded history.