Lochlan: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Lochlan is an Irish boy's name meaning “land of the lochs.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Land of the lochs
- Gender
- Boy
- Also spelled
- Lochlann
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 188 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Lochlan?
Lochlan is pronounced LOK-lun. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Lochlann.
What does Lochlan mean?
The Vikings plundered Ireland in the 9th and 10th centuries and the native home of the Norwegian invaders was known as Lochlan “land of the lochs”. But once they settled and intermarried with the Irish Lochlan became a popular name and was generally given to boys that had fair or red hair – a tribute to their Viking ancestors.
How popular is Lochlan in Ireland?
In 2025, 25 baby boys in Ireland were named Lochlann, which made it No. 188 that year. Another 39 were registered as Lochlainn or Lochlan. That's up from No. 239 ten years earlier. It first appears in the records in 1973, with 3 baby boys.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | No. 188 (Lochlann) |
| 2024 | 30 | No. 302 (Lochlann) |
| 2023 | 45 | No. 224 (Lochlan) |
| 2022 | 41 | No. 219 (Lochlann) |
| 2021 | 30 | No. 279 (Lochlann) |
| 2020 | 34 | No. 294 (Lochlann) |
| 2019 | 38 | No. 268 (Lochlann) |
| 2018 | 28 | No. 329 (Lochlann) |
| 2017 | 39 | No. 263 (Lochlann) |
| 2016 | 46 | No. 232 (Lochlann) |
| 2015 | 47 | No. 239 (Lochlann) |
| 2014 | 25 | No. 314 (Lochlann) |
| 2013 | 30 | No. 309 (Lochlann) |
| 2012 | 19 | No. 401 (Lochlann) |
| 2011 | 32 | No. 326 (Lochlann) |
| 2010 | 19 | No. 354 (Lochlann) |
| 2009 | 22 | No. 313 (Lochlann) |
| 2008 | 22 | No. 287 (Lochlann) |
| 2007 | 17 | No. 271 (Lochlann) |
| 2006 | 12 | No. 314 (Lochlann) |
| 2005 | 10 | No. 343 (Lochlann) |
| 2004 | 9 | No. 390 (Lochlann) |
| 2003 | 10 | No. 305 (Lochlann) |
| 2001 | 8 | No. 317 (Lochlann) |
| 2000 | 4 | No. 347 (Lochlann) |
| 1998 | 3 | No. 369 (Lochlainn) |
| 1980 | 3 | No. 321 (Lochlainn) |
| 1973 | 3 | No. 320 (Lochlann) |
Lochlan in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Lochlan, letter by letter.
- LLuis, rowan
- OOnn, gorse
- CColl, hazel
- HUath, hawthorn
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Lochlan
Questions about Lochlan
- How do you pronounce Lochlan?
- Lochlan is pronounced LOK-lun. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- What does Lochlan mean?
- Lochlan means “land of the lochs.”
- Is Lochlan a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Lochlan is a boy's name.
- How popular is Lochlan in Ireland?
- In 2025, Lochlann was No. 188 for boys in Ireland, with 25 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. That's the highest it has ever ranked.