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The short answer
Logan is an English name of Scottish surname origin meaning "little hollow", from Gaelic lag ("hollow, pit") with a diminutive suffix, originally a place name in Ayrshire. Behind the Name credits its 1970s American rise partly to the film Logan's Run and the Wolverine comic-book character, also named Logan. It is pronounced LOH-gən. In the United States it ranked #53 for boys and #402 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Logan as "from a Scottish surname that was originally derived from a place in Ayrshire meaning 'little hollow' (from Gaelic lag 'hollow, pit' combined with a diminutive suffix)". The entry notes the name began climbing US popularity charts in the mid-1970s, "perhaps partly inspired by the movie Logan's Run (1976)", around the same time the Marvel comic-book character Wolverine (alias Logan) was introduced.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic | lag | hollow, pit |
Popularity
Logan ranked #53 for boys and #402 for girls in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data. Behind the Name notes the name reached a high point for boys in 2017, when it ranked fifth nationally.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #53 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #402 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #53 (Social Security Administration)
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Lo
Variants: None documented.
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Logan is a Scottish surname name with a soft, two-syllable shape that has become a mainstream unisex staple. Its pop-culture ties (the Wolverine character, the 2017 film Logan) give it an action-hero edge that coexists comfortably with its everyday, low-key sound.
Style tags: surname name, unisex, modern classic, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The nickname Lo is a natural short form rather than a documented traditional diminutive.
If you like this name
Names that share Logan's Scottish/English surname shape or its unisex, contemporary sound.
Similar by sound
Similar by popularity
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Logan mean?
Logan means "little hollow". It comes from a Scottish surname originally from a place name in Ayrshire, from Gaelic lag ("hollow, pit") plus a diminutive suffix.
Is Logan a boy's name or a girl's name?
Both. Behind the Name lists Logan as masculine and feminine, and in 2025 it ranked #53 for boys and #402 for girls in US Social Security Administration data.
Why did Logan become so popular?
Behind the Name traces its 1970s rise partly to the film Logan's Run (1976) and to the Marvel comic-book character Wolverine, whose alias is Logan; it has remained common across the English-speaking world since the late 20th century.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Logan — supports etymology, pronunciation, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
