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Home › Baby Names Directory › Taran

Taran

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAH-rən /ˈtɑ.rən/High

Meaning: From Brythonic/Welsh Taran, 'thunder' — linked to the Celtic thunder-god Taranis; also a modern Indian nameMedium

In 30 seconds: The roll of thunder, in a name: Taran is Welsh and Pictish for 'thunder' — tied to the Celtic thunder-god Taranis. Powerful, ancient, and storied (a Prydain hero, too).
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Origin MediumWelsh, Pictish
MeaningFrom Brythonic/Welsh Taran, 'thunder' — linked to the Celtic thunder-god Taranis; also a modern Indian name
U.S. rank (2025)#2932 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births43 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1992
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,073

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199219712025

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

Taran comes from Brythonic and Welsh taran, 'thunder', linked to the Celtic thunder-god Taranis; it was also borne by Pictish kings. The hero of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles bears it. Independently, Taran is a modern Indian name (linked to 'raft, savior'). A powerful, ancient name.

In the U.S. it appears in Welsh-, Celtic-, and Indian-naming families. Rare, thunder at the root, and storied.

Did you know? Taranis, the Celtic thunder-god behind Taran, was so feared that Roman writers compared him to Jupiter — and the hero Taran of the Prydain Chronicles carries the name into beloved fantasy.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name — Taranis/Taran — etymology

Variations

TarranTaranis

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Taran Noah Smith (1984-)
    American actor who played Mark Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement
  • ★Taran Killam (1982-)
    American actor and comedian known for his work on Saturday Night Live

If you like Taran…

Gareth— a companion Welsh/Arthurian name
Rhys— another strong Welsh favorite
Tegan— a fellow Welsh choice
Evaan— lands in the same popularity range
Morgan— a fellow Welsh choice

Explore names like Taran

By themewelshmythological
By meaningGod / Divine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Taran mean?

Taran is Welsh/Pictish for 'thunder', linked to the Celtic thunder-god Taranis.

How do you pronounce Taran?

It's said TAH-rən /ˈtɑ.rən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Taran a boy or girl name?

Taran is a boy's name.

How popular is Taran?

Taran is a rare name in the U.S.

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