Phelan is a surname of Irish origin that comes from the Gaelic name "Ó Faoláin". This name means "descendant of Faolán", which is derived from the Old Irish word "faol" meaning "wolf". The Phelans are considered to be one of the thirty-two great septs of Ireland, and their original territory was in County Cork. Over time, the name Phelan has also become used as a given name, particularly in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora around the world. However, it is still more commonly encountered as a surname.
The name Phelan has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 68 babies being named Phelan since 1982. The year 1999 saw the highest number of newborns given this name, with nine babies sharing it. However, there were also years like 1982 and 2017 where only five babies were named Phelan each. This data shows that while Phelan is not one of the most popular names in the United States, it has still been a consistent choice for parents over the past few decades.