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Kieran
Pronounced KEER-an /ˈkɪr.ən/High
Meaning: From the Irish Ciaran, a diminutive of ciar, 'dark/black', hence 'the little dark one; dark-haired'; overwhelmingly a boys' name, recorded here for a girlLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Kieran comes from the Irish Ciaran, a diminutive of ciar, 'dark/black', hence 'the little dark one; dark-haired'. Overwhelmingly a boys' name, it is recorded here for a girl — which we flag honestly (slug distinguished; said 'KEER-an').
In the U.S. it is almost entirely a boys' name; this girls' use is very unusual. Rare for a girl, the-little-dark-one at the root, and crisp.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Kieran mean?
Kieran is Irish for 'the little dark one; dark-haired' (from ciar). It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; here it is recorded for a girl. A girls' kin form is Ciara.
How do you pronounce Kieran?
It's said KEER-an /ˈkɪr.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Kieran a boy or girl name?
Kieran is overwhelmingly a boys' name; this page covers its rare use as a girl's name.
How popular is Kieran?
Kieran is common for boys but extremely rare for girls.