Fun Facts About the Name Kieran
- More than 19 thousand babies named Kieran: U.S. records list 19,210 babies given the name Kieran from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,605 girls received the name Kieran - about 1 girl for every 11 boys.
What Does the Name Kieran Mean?
Kieran is the anglicized form of the Irish masculine name Ciarán. It derives from Old Irish ciar, meaning "dark" or "black," combined with the diminutive suffix -án. The literal sense is therefore "little dark one." The common explanation "dark-haired" or "dark-eyed" is a customary interpretation of that literal meaning, not a separate root.
Kieran Name History & Origins
The name is recorded in early Irish sources as Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar. It was borne by several early Irish saints, most notably St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, who founded the monastery at Clonmacnoise in County Offaly and is traditionally counted among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Another early saint, St. Ciarán of Saigir, is associated with Seir Kieran, also in County Offaly. Devotion to these saints helped establish the name in Ireland.
When the name was carried into English, Ciarán was rendered as Kieran, dropping the Irish acute accent and adapting the spelling to English conventions. The anglicized form is used in Ireland and in English-speaking countries, especially among families of Irish descent. Related spellings include Ciaran, which keeps the original Irish form without the accent, and Kieron, an English variant.
How Popular is the Name Kieran?
Kieran recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #389 in 2025.
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 | #9,184 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #9,227 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #5,856 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #4,527 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2021 | #11,664 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #5,753 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #5,231 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #5,695 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2017 | #4,263 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2016 | #5,718 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2015 | #4,793 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2014 | #4,409 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #4,206 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #4,177 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2011 | #3,246 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2010 | #3,144 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2009 | #2,814 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 2008 | #2,734 | 67 | 0.0035% |
| 2007 | #2,447 | 77 | 0.0040% |
| 2006 | #3,119 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2005 | #2,919 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 2004 | #2,875 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 2003 | #2,938 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 2002 | #2,689 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2001 | #2,724 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 2000 | #2,727 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 1999 | #2,453 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 1998 | #2,354 | 60 | 0.0034% |
| 1997 | #3,270 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1996 | #2,875 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1995 | #3,456 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1994 | #3,570 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1993 | #4,465 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #5,599 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #6,101 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #7,100 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #9,180 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #6,473 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #6,542 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #5,960 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #5,195 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #5,364 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #5,291 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #4,097 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1981 | #7,750 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #7,072 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #8,476 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #10,526 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #8,992 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,124 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #9,034 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #8,878 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #5,296 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #7,494 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #7,023 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #7,564 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #5,196 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,344 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #5,734 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #5,591 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #6,021 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #5,898 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #5,988 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #5,638 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #389 | 817 | 0.0478% |
| 2024 | #440 | 713 | 0.0416% |
| 2023 | #477 | 636 | 0.0372% |
| 2022 | #490 | 620 | 0.0355% |
| 2021 | #492 | 598 | 0.0342% |
| 2020 | #515 | 556 | 0.0322% |
| 2019 | #493 | 581 | 0.0324% |
| 2018 | #498 | 577 | 0.0318% |
| 2017 | #512 | 567 | 0.0306% |
| 2016 | #539 | 539 | 0.0284% |
| 2015 | #512 | 560 | 0.0292% |
| 2014 | #576 | 483 | 0.0252% |
| 2013 | #558 | 471 | 0.0249% |
| 2012 | #554 | 470 | 0.0248% |
| 2011 | #474 | 562 | 0.0296% |
| 2010 | #540 | 469 | 0.0244% |
| 2009 | #510 | 528 | 0.0266% |
| 2008 | #533 | 502 | 0.0246% |
| 2007 | #571 | 450 | 0.0217% |
| 2006 | #563 | 445 | 0.0217% |
| 2005 | #571 | 408 | 0.0204% |
| 2004 | #544 | 425 | 0.0214% |
| 2003 | #538 | 429 | 0.0217% |
| 2002 | #556 | 399 | 0.0206% |
| 2001 | #534 | 410 | 0.0211% |
| 2000 | #528 | 416 | 0.0212% |
| 1999 | #597 | 319 | 0.0166% |
| 1998 | #625 | 292 | 0.0153% |
| 1997 | #644 | 259 | 0.0137% |
| 1996 | #624 | 278 | 0.0147% |
| 1995 | #638 | 265 | 0.0139% |
| 1994 | #680 | 233 | 0.0121% |
| 1993 | #755 | 192 | 0.0098% |
| 1992 | #964 | 125 | 0.0063% |
| 1991 | #1,060 | 105 | 0.0052% |
| 1990 | #1,018 | 109 | 0.0053% |
| 1989 | #1,157 | 84 | 0.0042% |
| 1988 | #1,288 | 64 | 0.0033% |
| 1987 | #1,263 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 1986 | #1,222 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 1985 | #1,162 | 65 | 0.0035% |
| 1984 | #1,038 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 1983 | #1,341 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1982 | #1,214 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 1981 | #1,319 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #1,457 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1979 | #1,310 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 1978 | #1,336 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 1977 | #1,400 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1976 | #1,562 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 1975 | #1,352 | 42 | 0.0027% |
| 1974 | #1,458 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1973 | #1,338 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1972 | #1,705 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1971 | #1,130 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1970 | #1,256 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1969 | #1,454 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1968 | #1,300 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1967 | #1,157 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1966 | #1,209 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1965 | #1,101 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1964 | #1,251 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1963 | #1,367 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1962 | #1,379 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #1,273 | 39 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #1,309 | 37 | 0.0017% |
| 1959 | #1,397 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1958 | #1,330 | 34 | 0.0016% |
| 1957 | #1,502 | 28 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #1,701 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,523 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #2,375 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #1,744 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #1,832 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,310 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #1,784 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #2,711 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #2,387 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,313 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #1,921 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #3,558 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,391 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #3,080 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #3,775 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,009 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,989 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #2,764 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,826 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,925 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #2,662 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #4,050 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #2,778 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #3,122 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #4,455 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #3,567 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #4,692 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,562 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #3,358 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #3,253 | 8 | 0.0008% |
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 Kieran 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 are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Kieran's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kieran's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.