Kieran in Irish: Ciaran
The Irish form of Kieran is Ciaran, a boy's name meaning “little dark one.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Ciaran
- Meaning
- Little dark one
- Gender
- Boy
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 348 for boys (2025)
How do you say Kieran in Irish?
Kieran in Irish is Ciaran, pronounced KEER-awn. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KEER-in.
What does Ciaran mean?
Ciaran means “little dark one.” Kieran is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Ciaran: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Kieran in Ireland?
In 2025, 11 baby boys in Ireland were named Kieran, which made it No. 348 that year. That's down from No. 194 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1967, when 275 baby boys were named Kieran, No. 28 that year. The most babies got the name in 1973: 283. The records go back to 1964, when 224 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | No. 348 |
| 2024 | 9 | No. 394 |
| 2023 | 12 | No. 330 |
| 2022 | 12 | No. 349 |
| 2021 | 28 | No. 186 |
| 2020 | 10 | No. 381 |
| 2019 | 20 | No. 237 |
| 2018 | 18 | No. 262 |
| 2017 | 25 | No. 220 |
| 2016 | 30 | No. 190 |
| 2015 | 29 | No. 194 |
| 2014 | 30 | No. 193 |
| 2013 | 42 | No. 152 |
| 2012 | 25 | No. 227 |
| 2011 | 46 | No. 152 |
| 2010 | 52 | No. 142 |
| 2009 | 44 | No. 149 |
| 2008 | 69 | No. 112 |
| 2007 | 75 | No. 94 |
| 2006 | 60 | No. 104 |
| 2005 | 70 | No. 90 |
| 2004 | 89 | No. 73 |
| 2003 | 87 | No. 72 |
| 2002 | 94 | No. 69 |
| 2001 | 85 | No. 72 |
| 2000 | 109 | No. 60 |
| 1999 | 81 | No. 73 |
| 1998 | 81 | No. 67 |
| 1997 | 127 | No. 60 |
| 1996 | 108 | No. 65 |
| 1995 | 126 | No. 60 |
| 1994 | 134 | No. 54 |
| 1993 | 137 | No. 55 |
| 1992 | 158 | No. 52 |
| 1991 | 184 | No. 45 |
| 1990 | 178 | No. 47 |
| 1989 | 191 | No. 40 |
| 1988 | 178 | No. 45 |
| 1987 | 235 | No. 39 |
| 1986 | 214 | No. 43 |
| 1985 | 221 | No. 45 |
| 1984 | 224 | No. 46 |
| 1983 | 230 | No. 45 |
| 1982 | 245 | No. 45 |
| 1981 | 260 | No. 42 |
| 1980 | 263 | No. 46 |
| 1979 | 268 | No. 38 |
| 1978 | 241 | No. 41 |
| 1977 | 266 | No. 36 |
| 1976 | 241 | No. 41 |
| 1975 | 236 | No. 42 |
| 1974 | 277 | No. 35 |
| 1973 | 283 | No. 34 |
| 1972 | 241 | No. 41 |
| 1971 | 273 | No. 32 |
| 1970 | 270 | No. 30 |
| 1969 | 260 | No. 31 |
| 1968 | 196 | No. 38 |
| 1967 | 275 | No. 28 |
| 1966 | 243 | No. 32 |
| 1965 | 252 | No. 31 |
| 1964 | 224 | No. 32 |
Ciaran 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 Ciaran, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- IIodhadh, yew
- AAilm, pine
- RRuis, elder
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Kieran
Questions about Kieran
- What is Kieran in Irish?
- The Irish form of Kieran is Ciaran, pronounced KEER-awn. Ciaran means “little dark one.”
- How do you pronounce Ciaran?
- Ciaran is pronounced KEER-awn. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- Is Kieran a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Kieran is a boy's name.
- How popular is Kieran in Ireland?
- In 2025, Kieran was No. 348 for boys in Ireland, with 11 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1967, at No. 28.