Declining since 2006, #1,406 for girls today.
Popularity of Ciara since 1972
Babies named Ciara per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 232 |
| 1980s | 4,445 |
| 1990s | 13,068 |
| 2000s | 12,046 |
| 2010s | 3,996 |
| 2020s | 1,089 |
Meaning & origin
Ciara entered U.S. records in 1972 and climbed steadily, peaking at rank 140 in 2005. Since then it has fallen, ranking 1,406 in 2025 with 1 in 10,369 newborns. While still familiar, it is far less common than during its early-2000s heyday. The name is most often found in Illinois, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Its Irish roots give it a strong cultural identity, and the spelling Ciara distinguishes it from the more anglicized Keira or Kiera.
Ciara is the feminine form of the Irish name Ciarán, derived from the Gaelic word 'ciar' meaning 'dark' or 'black'. The name originally referred to someone with dark hair or complexion. Saint Ciara (or Cera) was a 7th-century Irish abbess, and the name has remained consistently used in Ireland, gaining international visibility in the late 20th century.
Where Ciara is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ciara” around the world
Where Ciara lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Ireland
44
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ceecee
Sibling names for Ciara
Names that share Ciara's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Maeve, Niamh, Saoirse, Aoife, Cara, Dara, Siara, Aisling, Keelin, Leana, Sinead, Ailish, Caitrin, Inis, Ita, Moya, Riona, Roisin, Adrieanna, Ailis, Aine, Ashling, Caoimhe, Clodagh, Eilish, Enda, Kerina, Nuala, Oria, Finola, Ethne, Fionnuala, Shevawn
Brothers: Cian, Finn, Declan, Liam, Rory, Ronan, Brogan, Cavan, Kaelan, Niall, Oshea, Cashel, Dugan, Eion, Eoghan, Finian, Fintan, Fionn, Kavan, Neven, Padraic, Padraig, Phelan, Tadhg, Aedin, Aengus, Aodhan, Conall, Daire, Darragh, Kealan, Kyllian, Lorcan, Marcas, Ruairi, Cathan, Colm, Conal, Conn, Desmund, Kielan, Nial, Pearse, Sair, Senan
Names like Ciara
Names whose popularity has moved with Ciara's over the last 50 years.
