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Ciaran

♂ Boy

Pronounced SYAR-an /ˈsjər.æn/Medium

Meaning: Irish (and Scottish Gaelic) name from 'ciar' ('black, dark') plus a diminutive suffix, meaning 'little dark one' or 'little dark-haired one'. Borne by early Irish saints.Low

In 30 seconds: Ciaran is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic name from 'ciar' ('black, dark') with a diminutive ending, so it reads as 'little dark one' or 'little dark-haired one'.
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Origin MediumIrish
MeaningIrish (and Scottish Gaelic) name from 'ciar' ('black, dark') plus a diminutive suffix, meaning 'little dark one' or 'little dark-haired one'. Borne by early Irish saints.
U.S. rank (2024)#1776 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births92 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,092

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419592024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The root 'ciar' means black or dark in Irish, and the diminutive suffix softens it into 'little dark one', most often understood as a description of dark hair. It was carried by several early Irish saints, which kept it in steady use across Ireland for centuries. That saintly history is a big part of why the name never fully disappeared from Irish naming.

The Irish spelling usually keeps the accent as Ciarán, and the actor Ciarán Hinds (born 1953) is a familiar bearer of that form. Footballer Ciaran Clark (born 1989) shows the accent-free spelling that travels more easily outside Ireland.

Did you know? The meaning attached to Ciaran is 'little dark one', from Irish ciar 'black, dark', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Ciaran — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Ciarán Hinds (1953–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Ciaran Clark (1989–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Ciaran…

Kieran— An anglicized respelling of the same Irish name, pronounced the same way.
Kyran— Another phonetic spelling of Ciaran's 'KEER-an' sound.
Ciara— The feminine counterpart from the same 'ciar' ('dark') root.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ciaran mean?

Ciaran means 'little dark one' or 'little dark-haired one', from Irish ciar 'black, dark', and is most often linked with Irish tradition.

How do you pronounce Ciaran?

It's commonly said SYAR-an /ˈsjər.æn/.

Is Ciaran a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Ciaran is used as a boy name.

How popular is Ciaran?

In 2024, Ciaran ranked #1776 in the U.S. for boys, with 92 births recorded.