Baby Names of Ireland

Karan in Irish: Caireann

The Irish form of Karan is Caireann, a girl's name meaning “little beloved.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.

Updated September 2026

How to say Caireann
CARE-inTwo syllables, stress on the first
Irish form
Caireann
Meaning
Little beloved
Gender
Girl
Also spelled
Cairenn, Ciaran

How do you say Karan in Irish?

Karan in Irish is Caireann, pronounced CARE-in. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Cairenn and Ciaran.

What does Caireann mean?

Caireann means “little beloved.” Karan is one of the English forms of the name.

Read more about Caireann: its meaning, origin and stories

Karan wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 1982, when 4 baby girls got the name. It was most popular in 1967, when 9 baby girls were named Karan, No. 246 that year. The most babies got the name in 1978: 11. The records go back to 1964, when 3 baby girls were given the name.

07.51519701980199020002010202011 in 1978
Baby girls named Karan each year. Source: Central Statistics Office, Irish Babies’ Names 2025 (data: table VSA60, girls' names, CC BY 4.0).
See the numbers by year
YearBabiesRank
19824No. 467
19816No. 386
19798No. 346
197811No. 302
19773No. 518
19754No. 455
19724No. 428
19713No. 466
19704No. 396
19686No. 307
19679No. 246
19667No. 276
19643No. 372

Caireann in Ogham

Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Caireann, letter by letter.

᚛ᚉᚐᚔᚏᚓᚐᚅᚅ᚜
  1. CColl, hazel
  2. AAilm, pine
  3. IIodhadh, yew
  4. RRuis, elder
  5. EEadhadh, aspen
  6. AAilm, pine
  7. NNion, ash
  8. NNion, ash

Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator

Names that go with Karan

Similar names

Questions about Karan

What is Karan in Irish?
The Irish form of Karan is Caireann, pronounced CARE-in. Caireann means “little beloved.”
How do you pronounce Caireann?
Caireann is pronounced CARE-in. Two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Karan a girl's name or a boy's name?
Karan is a girl's name.