The spelling of Phelan in Ireland When we are Ireland in about 1976, there were two phone books, the Dublin Book, and one for the rest of the country. Each book had about 200 Phelan phone numbers, no other spellings were used. We also found out that Whelan and Phelan or the same name, and can be used by the same family sometimes. My Gr-Grandfather used the name Phalin after he came to this country, but I know it was Phelan in Ireland. Possibly he couldn't read or write and accepted what people said it sounded like. Larry Phalin