Ultan: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Ultan is an Irish boy's name meaning “an Ulsterman.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish spelling
- Ultán
- Meaning
- An Ulsterman
- Gender
- Boy
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 829 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Ultan?
Ultan is pronounced ULT-in. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Ultan mean?
Means, simply, “an Ulsterman.” There have been eighteen saints named Ultan, the best-known being St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, (c. 650 AD). Noted for his care of orphans, the poor and the sick he is regarded as the patron saint of children and a hospital for sick children in Dublin is named in his honor.
How popular is Ultan in Ireland?
In 2025, 3 baby boys in Ireland were named Ultán, which made it No. 829 that year. Another 3 were registered as Ultan. That's down from No. 355 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1969, when 16 baby boys were named Ultan, No. 146 that year. The most babies got the name in 2012: 18. The records go back to 1964, when 7 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | No. 829 (Ultán) |
| 2024 | 4 | No. 655 (Ultan) |
| 2023 | 10 | No. 472 (Ultan) |
| 2022 | 11 | No. 367 (Ultan) |
| 2021 | 6 | No. 755 (Ultán) |
| 2020 | 7 | No. 459 (Ultan) |
| 2019 | 15 | No. 402 (Ultan) |
| 2018 | 15 | No. 369 (Ultan) |
| 2017 | 6 | No. 495 (Ultan) |
| 2016 | 11 | No. 353 (Ultan) |
| 2015 | 11 | No. 355 (Ultan) |
| 2014 | 10 | No. 382 (Ultan) |
| 2013 | 9 | No. 404 (Ultan) |
| 2012 | 18 | No. 267 (Ultan) |
| 2011 | 10 | No. 387 (Ultan) |
| 2010 | 12 | No. 338 (Ultan) |
| 2009 | 18 | No. 261 (Ultan) |
| 2008 | 12 | No. 328 (Ultan) |
| 2007 | 12 | No. 299 (Ultan) |
| 2006 | 15 | No. 239 (Ultan) |
| 2005 | 8 | No. 302 (Ultan) |
| 2004 | 15 | No. 203 (Ultan) |
| 2003 | 9 | No. 275 (Ultan) |
| 2002 | 5 | No. 348 (Ultan) |
| 2001 | 7 | No. 273 (Ultan) |
| 2000 | 10 | No. 214 (Ultan) |
| 1999 | 7 | No. 241 (Ultan) |
| 1998 | 11 | No. 193 (Ultan) |
| 1997 | 6 | No. 286 (Ultan) |
| 1996 | 11 | No. 208 (Ultan) |
| 1995 | 10 | No. 213 (Ultan) |
| 1994 | 9 | No. 208 (Ultan) |
| 1993 | 9 | No. 213 (Ultan) |
| 1992 | 7 | No. 238 (Ultan) |
| 1990 | 7 | No. 229 (Ultan) |
| 1989 | 7 | No. 215 (Ultan) |
| 1988 | 3 | No. 319 (Ultan) |
| 1987 | 3 | No. 303 (Ultan) |
| 1986 | 9 | No. 210 (Ultan) |
| 1985 | 6 | No. 234 (Ultan) |
| 1984 | 8 | No. 217 (Ultan) |
| 1983 | 4 | No. 282 (Ultan) |
| 1982 | 13 | No. 179 (Ultan) |
| 1981 | 10 | No. 206 (Ultan) |
| 1980 | 8 | No. 232 (Ultan) |
| 1979 | 8 | No. 228 (Ultan) |
| 1978 | 8 | No. 223 (Ultan) |
| 1977 | 7 | No. 234 (Ultan) |
| 1976 | 18 | No. 167 (Ultan) |
| 1975 | 8 | No. 225 (Ultan) |
| 1974 | 10 | No. 208 (Ultan) |
| 1973 | 17 | No. 169 (Ultan) |
| 1972 | 12 | No. 186 (Ultan) |
| 1971 | 15 | No. 168 (Ultan) |
| 1970 | 4 | No. 278 (Ultan) |
| 1969 | 16 | No. 146 (Ultan) |
| 1968 | 14 | No. 150 (Ultan) |
| 1967 | 8 | No. 187 (Ultan) |
| 1966 | 4 | No. 229 (Ultan) |
| 1965 | 4 | No. 222 (Ultan) |
| 1964 | 7 | No. 181 (Ultan) |
Ultan 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 Ultan, letter by letter.
- UÚr, heather
- LLuis, rowan
- TTinne, holly
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Ultan
Questions about Ultan
- How do you pronounce Ultan?
- Ultan is pronounced ULT-in. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Ultan mean?
- Ultan means “an Ulsterman.”
- Is Ultan a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Ultan is a boy's name.
- How do you spell Ultan in Irish?
- In Irish it's spelled Ultán. That's the spelling most parents in Ireland now register, according to the Central Statistics Office.
- How popular is Ultan in Ireland?
- In 2025, Ultán was No. 829 for boys in Ireland, with 3 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1969, at No. 146.