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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kerrigan

Kerrigan

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAIR-ih-gun /ˈkɛr.ɪ.ɡən/Medium

Meaning: From the Irish surname O Ciaragain, 'descendant of Ciaragan,' a diminutive of ciar ('dark; black'), giving 'little dark one.' Reads unisex (StarCraft's Sarah Kerrigan is female), which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname name: Kerrigan means 'little dark one' (said 'KAIR-ih-gun'). Reads unisex — we note it.
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Origin LowIrish
MeaningFrom the Irish surname O Ciaragain, 'descendant of Ciaragan,' a diminutive of ciar ('dark; black'), giving 'little dark one.' Reads unisex (StarCraft's Sarah Kerrigan is female), which we note.
U.S. rank (2020)#13147 ↘ Falling
2020 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1996
Total births (all-time)≈ 105

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201419932020

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kerrigan comes from the Irish surname O Ciaragain, 'descendant of Ciaragan,' a little-form of ciar ('dark; black'), so 'little dark one.' It reads unisex, which we note — rare as a first name in the U.S. (said 'KAIR-ih-gun').

It appears rarely as a first name in the U.S., for both sexes. Rare, Irish, and surname-style.

Did you know? Kerrigan is an Irish surname — from O Ciaragain, tied to ciar ('dark'), 'little dark one' — that reads unisex; StarCraft's Sarah Kerrigan is a well-known female bearer, which we note (said 'KAIR-ih-gun').
Overall data confidence 46%
References — Kerrigan — Irish surname O Ciaragain, 'little dark one'; unisex

Variations

KeriganKerrighanKerigann

Nicknames

KerryKerr

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kerrigan…

Finnegan— a like Irish -gan surname name
Keegan— a like Irish K- name
Brennan— a like Irish surname name
Kilian— a similarly popular pick
Kyllian— another Irish name

Explore names like Kerrigan

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kerrigan mean?

Kerrigan is an Irish surname from O Ciaragain, 'little dark one' (from ciar, 'dark'); it reads unisex, which we note.

How do you pronounce Kerrigan?

It's said KAIR-ih-gun /ˈkɛr.ɪ.ɡən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kerrigan a boy or girl name?

Kerrigan reads unisex; here it is used as a boy's name, and we note the unisex lean.

How popular is Kerrigan?

Kerrigan is an extremely rare first name in the U.S.

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