Kieran Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kieran is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kieran?
Kieran is spelled K-I-E-R-A-N. The name has 6 letters.
Kieran at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Kieran is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ciarán, which means “little dark one” or “little dark-haired one.”
- Origin
- Kieran is commonly associated with Irish Gaelic origins and is derived from the traditional Gaelic name Ciarán.
- Pronunciation
- KEER-uhn · 2 syllables
Kieran Popularity in 2025
Rank#8,860
Recorded Births11
Rank#389
Recorded Births817
- Girls usage rose 86 places to #8,860 and recorded the same number of births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 51 places to #389 and recorded 101 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Kieran Mean?
Kieran is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ciarán, which means “little dark one” or “little dark-haired one.”
Origin: Kieran is commonly associated with Irish Gaelic origins and is derived from the traditional Gaelic name Ciarán.
How Do You Pronounce Kieran?
PronunciationKEER-uhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Kieran?
- History
- The name Kieran is associated with several saints named Ciarán in early medieval Irish history and hagiography.
Kieran Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 11 | #8,860 |
| 2025 | Boys | 817 | #389 |
| 2024 | Girls | 11 | #8,946 |
| 2024 | Boys | 716 | #440 |
| 2023 | Girls | 21 | #5,752 |
| 2023 | Boys | 636 | #477 |
| 2022 | Girls | 31 | #4,472 |
| 2022 | Boys | 621 | #490 |
| 2021 | Girls | 8 | #11,146 |
| 2021 | Boys | 598 | #493 |
| 2020 | Girls | 21 | #5,667 |
| 2020 | Boys | 558 | #514 |
| 2019 | Girls | 25 | #5,163 |
| 2019 | Boys | 581 | #493 |
| 2018 | Girls | 22 | #5,619 |
| 2018 | Boys | 579 | #497 |
| 2017 | Girls | 34 | #4,220 |
| 2017 | Boys | 567 | #512 |
| 2016 | Girls | 23 | #5,622 |
| 2016 | Boys | 540 | #539 |
| 2015 | Girls | 29 | #4,725 |
| 2015 | Boys | 560 | #512 |
| 2014 | Girls | 33 | #4,350 |
| 2014 | Boys | 483 | #575 |
When Was Kieran Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
817 recorded births
National rank #389
2024 · Boys
716 recorded births
National rank #440
2023 · Boys
636 recorded births
National rank #477
2022 · Boys
621 recorded births
National rank #490
Where Kieran Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| SD | #192 | 7 |
| CT | #210 | 16 |
| ID | #214 | 12 |
| PA | #217 | 58 |
| MA | #223 | 27 |
| NH | #230 | 5 |
| WI | #231 | 26 |
| MN | #251 | 24 |