Find out how popular the first name Keiran has been for the last 35 years (from 1989 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Keiran by gender

Based on the last 35 years of data, Keiran is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 88% of people named Keiran being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 16 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Keiran.

The history of the first name Keiran

The name Keiran is an anglicized variant of the Irish name Ciarán, which means "little dark one" or "little tanned one". The name has its origins in the Gaelic language and can be traced back to the 5th century AD in Ireland.

Ciarán was a popular name among Irish saints and scholars during the early medieval period. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Saint Ciarán of Saigir, who lived in the 5th century AD and is considered one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He founded the monastery of Saighir in County Offaly and is the patron saint of the Diocese of Ossory.

Another notable figure was Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, who lived in the 6th century AD and founded the famous monastery of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly. This monastery became a significant center of learning and religion in Ireland and played a crucial role in preserving Irish culture and literature during the medieval period.

In the 9th century, an Irish monk named Ciarán of Dairinis is recorded as having traveled to France and founded a monastery in the region of Picardy. This helped to spread the name beyond Ireland and into continental Europe.

Throughout medieval times, the name Ciarán remained popular among Irish families, particularly in the provinces of Leinster and Munster. Famous bearers of the name included Ciarán Ó Maoilchonaire, a 12th-century Irish poet and historian, and Ciarán Mac Muireadhaigh, a 14th-century Irish chieftain and member of the O'Conor dynasty of Connacht.

In the 16th century, the name Ciarán began to be anglicized as Keiran or Kieran, reflecting the changing linguistic and cultural influences in Ireland. One notable bearer of the anglicized form was Kieran MacCarthy, a 17th-century Irish nobleman and military leader who fought against the English during the Irish Confederate Wars.

As the name spread and evolved, it also found its way into other cultures and languages. For example, in Scotland, the name Keiran is sometimes used as a variant of the Gaelic name Ciaràn, which has a similar meaning and origin.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Keiran was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keiran, please contact us.

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