What does Ruairi mean?
Ruairí means “red king” in Irish.
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.
Ruairi vs Faolan
Which is more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Faolan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 0 named Faolan.
| Ruairi | Faolan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Red king | little wolf |
| Origin | Irish | irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROO-ree | FWAY-lawn |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1988 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2022 (21) | 2023 (23) |
| In 2025 | 17 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ruairi
Faolan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ruairi | Faolan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 99 | 72 |
| 2010s | 91 | 100 |
| 2000s | 60 | 25 |
| 1990s | 33 | 0 |
| 1980s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruairi or Faolan more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Faolan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 0 named Faolan.
What is the difference between Ruairi and Faolan?
Ruairi means Red king (Irish origin), while Faolan means little wolf (irish origin).
Which name is older, Ruairi or Faolan?
In US records, Ruairi first appears in 1988 and Faolan in 0, so Faolan has the longer recorded history.