Ciaran

Meaning & origin

Ciaran is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "little dark one." While it has not cracked the top 1000 in the U.S., the name has been rising in use since 1985 and reached its peak rank of 1609 in 2025. In that year, approximately 1 in 16,267 boys were named Ciaran. The greatest concentration of bearers is found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oregon. Despite the prevalence of the anglicized spelling Kieran, the original Irish form has maintained a steady, modest presence, appealing to families seeking a connection to Irish heritage.

Ciaran is the Irish form of the Old Irish name Ciarán, derived from 'ciar' meaning 'dark' and the diminutive suffix '-án', thus 'little dark one'. The name has been borne by numerous early Irish saints, most notably Saint Ciarán of Saigir (5th-6th century) and Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (6th century), both founding figures in Irish monasticism. In modern Ireland, Ciarán has remained a popular traditional name, often anglicized as Kieran. Its use in other English-speaking countries has grown gradually since the mid-20th century.