Fun Facts About the Name Kerrigan
- More than 2 thousand babies named Kerrigan: U.S. records list 2,571 babies given the name Kerrigan from 1880 through 2025. Even 111 boys received the name Kerrigan - about 1 boy for every 22 girls.
What Does the Name Kerrigan Mean?
Kerrigan is an anglicized spelling of the Irish surname Ó Ciaragáin, and its established meaning is "descendant of Ciaragán." The prefix Ó marks descent, and the personal name Ciaragán is built from the Irish adjective ciar, meaning "dark" or "black," with a diminutive ending that gives the sense "little dark one." The description most likely referred to dark hair or a dark complexion, a common way of telling individuals apart before hereditary surnames became fixed.
Kerrigan Name History & Origins
Hereditary surnames of the Ó form became established in Ireland roughly between the 10th and 12th centuries, as families adopted a single ancestral name instead of changing the patronymic each generation. The English spelling Kerrigan reflects how Gaelic sounds were written down by English-speaking clerks, with the final -áin rendered as -an and the opening sounds simplified for English readers.
Families called Ó Ciaragáin were recorded in Connacht and in Ulster. Early modern documents show the name in several spellings, among them Kerrigan, Kerigan, and Kirrigan, since Irish names were usually written phonetically. As with many Irish surnames, some bearers dropped the Ó or adopted reduced English forms.
Kerrigan is now also used as a given name, especially in the United States, where Irish surnames have long been taken as first names. Sarah Kerrigan is a central character in the StarCraft video game series; that is a modern fictional use of the name and is separate from its history as a surname.
Similar-looking Irish surnames such as Carrigan and Corrigan come from different Gaelic personal names and are not simply variants of Kerrigan.
How Popular is the Name Kerrigan?
Kerrigan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2012. Its best rank was #1,556 in 1996.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,608 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #4,069 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2023 | #3,497 | 45 | 0.0028% |
| 2022 | #4,249 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2021 | #3,644 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2020 | #3,116 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 2019 | #2,551 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 2018 | #2,351 | 78 | 0.0046% |
| 2017 | #2,728 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 2016 | #2,375 | 79 | 0.0045% |
| 2015 | #2,021 | 98 | 0.0055% |
| 2014 | #1,932 | 104 | 0.0058% |
| 2013 | #1,820 | 112 | 0.0064% |
| 2012 | #1,755 | 118 | 0.0067% |
| 2011 | #2,049 | 95 | 0.0054% |
| 2010 | #2,658 | 68 | 0.0038% |
| 2009 | #2,302 | 85 | 0.0046% |
| 2008 | #2,650 | 70 | 0.0037% |
| 2007 | #2,664 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2006 | #2,158 | 90 | 0.0047% |
| 2005 | #2,192 | 84 | 0.0045% |
| 2004 | #2,299 | 76 | 0.0041% |
| 2003 | #2,052 | 87 | 0.0048% |
| 2002 | #1,701 | 108 | 0.0060% |
| 2001 | #1,623 | 113 | 0.0063% |
| 2000 | #1,738 | 101 | 0.0056% |
| 1999 | #1,929 | 82 | 0.0046% |
| 1998 | #1,684 | 95 | 0.0054% |
| 1997 | #1,753 | 87 | 0.0050% |
| 1996 | #1,556 | 102 | 0.0058% |
| 1995 | #3,182 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1994 | #5,134 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #10,067 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #9,947 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #10,788 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #9,934 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #8,869 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,379 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #13,147 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #9,341 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,237 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #10,266 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #11,491 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #13,113 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #8,488 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #10,232 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #10,714 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #10,279 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,662 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #11,361 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #8,748 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #6,278 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #7,415 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #7,226 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kerrigan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Kerrigan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kerrigan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.