Fun Facts About the Name Kiernan
- More than 2 thousand babies named Kiernan: U.S. records list 2,448 babies given the name Kiernan from 1880 through 2025. Even 687 girls received the name Kiernan - about 1 girl for every 3 boys.
What Does the Name Kiernan Mean?
Kiernan is an anglicized form of the Irish personal name Ciarán, which is formed from the Irish word ciar, meaning "dark" or "black," plus the diminutive suffix -án. The literal sense is "little dark one," conventionally taken to describe someone dark-haired or dark-complexioned. The same source lies behind the spellings Kieran, Kyran, and Ciaran.
As a surname, Kiernan has a second, separate origin. In parts of Ulster, especially County Cavan, it anglicizes the Irish Mac Thighearnáin, "son of Tighearnán," a personal name built on tighearna, "lord." The surname can also derive from Ó Ciaráin, "descendant of Ciarán," which shares the root of the given name. The modern given name Kiernan is chiefly tied to the Ciarán tradition.
Kiernan Name History & Origins
The name rests on the early Irish personal name Ciarán, which was common in medieval Ireland and was borne by several saints. The best known are Saint Ciarán of Saigir, counted among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, and Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, who founded the monastery at Clonmacnoise in the mid-sixth century. Devotion to these figures helped keep the name in use in Ireland.
Anglicized spellings emerged as Irish names were written in English, a practice that became more widespread from the seventeenth century onward, when Irish records were increasingly kept in English. Ciarán yielded a range of forms, among them Kieran, Kyran, and Kiernan. The final n in Kiernan matches its parallel use as a surname, and in Ireland the name also passes through families by way of the surname Kiernan, which was carried by emigrants to Britain, the United States, and Australia.
In English-speaking countries Kiernan is now used as both a given name and a surname, with the given name generally understood as a variant of Kieran.
How Popular is the Name Kiernan?
Kiernan 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 2008. Its best rank was #1,694 in 2000.
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 | #10,519 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #14,367 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #8,726 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #7,852 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #6,851 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #5,754 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #4,719 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2018 | #6,391 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #5,253 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #8,645 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #9,826 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #8,292 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #7,580 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #10,088 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #8,425 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #6,073 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #6,002 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2008 | #5,372 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #6,454 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #7,687 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #7,001 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #6,371 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #5,028 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #3,851 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #4,383 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #4,894 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,388 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1998 | #5,251 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #5,757 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #4,673 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #6,118 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #6,499 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #5,809 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #9,962 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #6,798 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #12,815 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #8,368 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #11,539 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #11,095 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,178 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #9,665 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #9,077 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #8,879 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,409 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2024 | #3,119 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 2023 | #3,843 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #3,658 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2021 | #3,002 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2020 | #3,377 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #3,764 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2018 | #2,823 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 2017 | #2,403 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2016 | #3,484 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2015 | #2,942 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2014 | #2,833 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #3,239 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2012 | #2,891 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2011 | #2,188 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 2010 | #1,920 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2009 | #2,085 | 66 | 0.0033% |
| 2008 | #1,888 | 77 | 0.0038% |
| 2007 | #2,081 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 2006 | #2,498 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 2005 | #1,899 | 67 | 0.0034% |
| 2004 | #2,120 | 56 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #1,754 | 69 | 0.0035% |
| 2002 | #1,732 | 67 | 0.0035% |
| 2001 | #1,854 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 2000 | #1,694 | 68 | 0.0035% |
| 1999 | #2,009 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1998 | #2,295 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1997 | #2,190 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1996 | #1,832 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1995 | #2,325 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1994 | #2,151 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #2,376 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1992 | #3,167 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #3,176 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #3,703 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #3,920 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #4,060 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #3,437 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #5,678 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #4,215 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #4,785 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,811 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #3,824 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #5,228 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #6,327 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #6,064 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #5,308 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #5,105 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #3,202 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,286 | 5 | 0.0002% |
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 Kiernan 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.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Kiernan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kiernan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.