Ciaran is a boy name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Ciaran means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Ciaran across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Ciaran has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Ciaran is a boy name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “little dark one”. From Gaelic ciar meaning black, borne by early Irish saints.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 2,233 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 5,248 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 2,033 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 1,444 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 12,102 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Ciaran per year, England & Wales (1996 to 2025). England & Wales peaked in 2004 (514/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1982 (359/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (119/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2004 (118/yr) · United States peaked in 2025 (110/yr).
Ciaran is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #3,328 nationally (given to 168 babies that year).
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