Cieran
A boy's name of Irish origin with 25 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Cieran reads as a modern invention — a name that emerged in the 2010s and was likely coined by parents looking for something fresh rather than inherited.
The clean, contemporary quality of its ending — among the most common endings in modern American names — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Cieran ranks #12639 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Cieran is a boy's baby name of Irish origin, an anglicized form of Ciarán, meaning 'dark one' or 'little dark one,' from the Irish ciar (dark, black) with a diminutive suffix. Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of Ireland's most revered early Christian saints.
With its deep Irish roots and saintly heritage, Cieran is a handsome choice for parents honoring Celtic ancestry.
EtymologyShow more
Cieran appeared in SSA records in 2014, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly draw from global cultures, invent new names, and blend sounds to create something entirely original. Its Irish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 25 recorded births, Cieran has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cieran has 4+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2014.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19 | #10855 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 6 | #10980 | — |
The Story of Cieran
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2020, Cieran is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Cieran are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Cieran?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Cieran — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2014, peaked in the 2020s with 19 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(4 years, 2014–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #12639 |
| 2021 | 6 | #11045 |
| 2020 | 8 | #8881 |
| 2014 | 6 | #10980 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2014–2024