Kieran Boy

Popularity: #366 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KEER-an //ˈkɪərən//

Origin: Irish; Gaelic

Meaning: Irish: 'little dark one'; Gaelic: 'dark-haired'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kieran has its roots in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic name "Ciarán," which is a diminutive form of "ciar," meaning "dark" or "black." This etymological origin reflects a common practice in Gaelic naming conventions, where diminutive forms often convey endearment or familiarity. The name Kieran entered the English language through the anglicization of Irish names, particularly during the 19th century when Irish emigration to English-speaking countries increased significantly.

Historically, the name Kieran is associated with several notable figures in Irish history, most prominently Saint Ciarán of Saigir, who founded the monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise in the 6th century. His influence in early Christianity in Ireland contributed to the name's enduring significance.

Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and hagiographies, which document the lives of saints and their contributions to the Christian faith. The name has been borne by numerous Irish leaders and scholars throughout the centuries, further embedding it in the cultural fabric of Ireland.

Culturally, Kieran has been embraced in various forms of Irish literature and folklore, often symbolizing strength and resilience. The name's association with darkness can also carry connotations of depth and mystery, resonating with themes prevalent in Irish mythology.

The use of Kieran in contemporary contexts often reflects a connection to heritage and identity, reinforcing its significance as a traditional Irish name. Overall, the historical and cultural layers associated with Kieran contribute to its lasting presence in both Irish and English-speaking cultures.

Famous people named Kieran

In this section, you will find notable people named Kieran. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kieran who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kieran who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Kieran Culkin is an actor best known for Succession, Igby Goes Down, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Kieran Gibbs is a former professional footballer best known for playing with Arsenal and the England national team.

Kieran Trippier is a professional footballer best known for playing with Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.

Fictional characters named Kieran

The following list of fictional characters named Kieran is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Kieran is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. He is a skilled archer and a member of the Greil Mercenaries, known for his loyalty and bravery.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kieran, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

CillianDeclanNiamhSiobhanAislingOrlaRonan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kieran. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CiaranKianKeiran

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kieran was first seen in the United States in 1918.

Kieran has ranked as high as #768 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas.

In the past 5 years the name Kieran has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kieran is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kieran was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kieran.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 828 817 11
2024 727 716 11
2023 657 636 21
2022 652 621 31
2021 606 598 8
2020 579 558 21
2019 606 581 25
2018 601 579 22
2017 601 567 34
2016 563 540 23
2015 589 560 29
2014 516 483 33
2013 506 471 35
2012 506 470 36
2011 613 562 51
2010 522 469 53
2009 591 528 63
2008 569 502 67
2007 527 450 77
2006 499 445 54
2005 464 408 56
2004 481 425 56
2003 481 429 52
2002 456 399 57
2001 465 410 55
2000 470 416 54
1999 378 319 59
1998 352 292 60
1997 295 259 36
1996 320 278 42
1995 297 265 32
1994 264 233 31
1993 215 192 23
1992 142 125 17
1991 120 105 15
1990 121 109 12
1989 92 84 8
1988 76 64 12
1987 71 60 11
1986 74 62 12
1985 79 65 14
1984 87 74 13
1983 62 49 13
1982 78 59 19
1981 58 50 8
1980 52 43 9
1979 57 50 7
1978 52 47 5
1977 49 43 6
1976 35 35 0
1975 41 41 0
1974 51 36 15
1973 44 39 5
1972 32 27 5
1971 63 53 10
1970 50 44 6
1969 37 31 6
1968 40 35 5
1967 50 42 8
1966 39 39 0
1965 56 46 10
1964 46 39 7
1963 40 33 7
1962 33 33 0
1961 39 39 0
1960 43 37 6
1959 38 32 6
1958 34 34 0
1957 28 28 0
1956 22 22 0
1955 26 26 0
1954 12 12 0
1953 20 20 0
1952 23 18 5
1951 12 12 0
1950 18 18 0
1949 14 9 5
1948 11 11 0
1947 12 12 0
1946 15 15 0
1945 5 5 0
1944 10 10 0
1942 7 7 0
1941 5 5 0
1940 7 7 0
1939 7 7 0
1938 8 8 0
1936 5 5 0
1935 5 5 0
1934 9 9 0
1932 5 5 0
1931 9 9 0
1929 8 8 0
1928 5 5 0
1926 7 7 0
1924 5 5 0
1923 5 5 0
1921 8 8 0
1918 8 8 0

Top States for Kieran (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 79
12%
CA 62
9%
PA 44
7%
TX 34
5%
NJ 34
5%
VA 31
5%
MA 29
4%
IL 27
4%
NC 27
4%
WA 24
4%
MN 22
3%
FL 20
3%
CO 20
3%
MI 18
3%
MD 16
2%
GA 15
2%
TN 14
2%
OH 13
2%
AZ 13
2%
IN 13
2%
WI 12
2%
UT 12
2%
MO 9
1%
CT 9
1%
DC 8
1%
NV 8
1%
AL 7
1%
ID 7
1%
KS 7
1%
KY 7
1%
OR 6
1%
WV 6
1%
AR 5
1%
SC 5
1%
MT 5
1%
NH 5
1%