What does Ruairi mean?
Ruairí means “red king” in Irish.
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'.
Ruairi vs Phelan
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.
| Ruairi | Phelan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Red king | little wolf |
| Origin | Irish | irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROO-ree | FEE-lan |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1988 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2022 (21) | 1996 (26) |
| In 2025 | 17 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ruairi
Phelan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ruairi | Phelan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 99 | 52 |
| 2010s | 91 | 95 |
| 2000s | 60 | 115 |
| 1990s | 33 | 163 |
| 1980s | 6 | 80 |
| 1970s | 0 | 60 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruairi or Phelan 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 Ruairi and Phelan?
Ruairi means Red king (Irish origin), while Phelan means little wolf (irish origin).
Which name is older, Ruairi or Phelan?
In US records, Ruairi first appears in 1988 and Phelan in 0, so Phelan has the longer recorded history.