Ciarra
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from Ciara.
Name Census estimates that about 3,261 living Americans carry the first name Ciarra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ciarra today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ciarra births was 1997 (206 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ciarra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
3.3K
~ 1 in 105,107 Americans
Peak year
1997
206 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,419
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Ciarra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ciarra from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 1,544 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ciarra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ciarra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ciarras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 26 states and territories. California, New York, Florida recorded the most babies named Ciarra, while Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 68 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ciarra
The name Ciarra is believed to have its origins in the Irish language, tracing back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "ciar," which translates to "dark" or "black-haired." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone with dark features or hair.
In ancient Irish folklore and mythology, there are references to figures bearing names similar to Ciarra, such as Ciara or Ciaran. However, it is difficult to establish a direct connection between these mythological characters and the modern name Ciarra.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ciarra can be found in the 16th century annals of Ireland, where it was mentioned as the name of a woman from the O'Brien clan, a prominent Irish family. Unfortunately, specific details about this individual are scarce.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who carried the name Ciarra. In the 17th century, Ciarra Ní Chonaill was a renowned Irish poet and composer, known for her contributions to the Irish literary tradition.
In the 19th century, Ciarra MacNamara was a celebrated Irish artist whose works captured the landscapes and rural life of her homeland. She was born in 1825 and lived until 1898.
Moving into the 20th century, Ciarra O'Donnell was a prominent Irish political activist and advocate for women's rights. She played a significant role in the Irish independence movement and was active in the early 20th century.
Another notable figure from the 20th century was Ciarra Fitzgerald, an Irish-American author and journalist born in 1922. She wrote extensively about Irish culture and the immigrant experience in America, publishing several critically acclaimed works during her lifetime.
Lastly, in the realm of sports, Ciarra O'Connor was an accomplished Irish golfer who competed professionally in the late 20th century. She won multiple tournaments and represented Ireland at various international events, contributing to the growth of women's golf in her home country.
While the name Ciarra has Irish roots and a rich historical background, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in recent times. However, the focus of this report remains on the ancient origins and notable figures from history who bore this name.
People
Ciarra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ciarra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ciarra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ciarra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3,261 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ciarra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 105,107 US residents.
Is Ciarra a common name?
We classify Ciarra as "Rare". It ranks above 95.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 3,352 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ciarra most popular?
The single biggest year for Ciarra was 1997, when 206 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ciarra is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ciarra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ciarra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.