Irish boy name
Ciarán Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Ciarán means little dark one. From the Irish ciar, dark, with a diminutive ending
Ciarán is a classic Irish name from ciar, meaning dark-haired or dark, with a small ending. Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise and Saint Ciarán of Saighir are two of Ireland's earliest saints, so the name has been used since the early Christian period. The anglicised spelling Kieran is common worldwide, though the Irish spelling remains the usual form in Ireland. The pronunciation KEER-awn is simple. Ciarán is a stable and respected choice that never feels dated, and it fits equally well with traditional and modern names.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Ciarán
KieranCiaranKieronKieren
Well-known people named Ciarán
Ciarán Hinds, Ciarán Carson.
Ciarán popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Ciarán ranked #117 in Ireland (49 babies) and #1,609 in the US (105 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (boys)United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ciarán mean?
Ciarán means "little dark one". From the Irish ciar, dark, with a diminutive ending.
How do you pronounce Ciarán?
Ciarán is pronounced KEER-awn.
What is the origin of Ciarán?
Ciarán is of Irish origin. From the Irish ciar, dark, with a diminutive ending.