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Ciaran

male
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Little Dark One"

Irish name from ciar meaning dark, borne by several saints and widely used in Ireland.

Themes:gaelicsaintcolor

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection CuratorCreative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Ciaran

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#1776Ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
#1776

Ciaran was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
+138

better than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Ciaran Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Ciaran.

8 ideas
ciay
Nickname
ciar
Nickname
cie
Nickname
cy
Nickname
co
Nickname
aran
Nickname
rany
Nickname
ci
Nickname

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Ciaran mean?
Ciaran means "Little Dark One". Irish name from ciar meaning dark, borne by several saints and widely used in Ireland.
What is the origin of Ciaran?
Ciaran is of Irish origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Ciaran?
According to the latest SSA data, Ciaran is currently ranked #1776 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Ciaran a boy name?
Ciaran is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Ciaran?
Popular nicknames for Ciaran include ciay, ciar, cie, cy, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Ciaran?
There are many names similar to Ciaran in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginIrish
Syllables2
Length6 letters
US Rank#1776
Trend↑ Rising
Starts withC

Explore More Boy Names Like Ciaran

Ciaran has Irish roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Irish baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Ciaran appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Beautiful Irish Baby Names and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Biblical Baby Names and Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Ciaran pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Ciaran beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.