Kirkland is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin, predominantly used for males. It emerged during the mid-20th century as a variant spelling of the surname Kirkland, which itself is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name 'Cearcalan', meaning 'from the land of Ceirche'. The name gained popularity in the United States due to its association with several notable figures bearing the Kirkland surname, such as James Kirkland, a former governor of Tennessee. However, it is important to note that the given name Kirkland is less common than its corresponding surname and may not yet have established a significant presence on baby name lists.
"Between 1996 and 2017, the name Kirkland was given to a total of 18 newborns, with peaks of popularity occurring in 1996 (7 births) and 2017 (6 births), while there were fewer Kirklands born in 1999 (5 births)."