How to say it
ˈkiː.ən
Ancient; or king
ˈkiː.ən
Two roots: the Irish Cian, 'ancient' or 'enduring,' and the Persian Kian, 'king' or 'realm.'
Kian sits on two heritages that landed on the same sound. In Irish it is Cian, 'ancient' or 'enduring,' the name of a hero of myth and father of the god Lugh. In Persian, Kian means 'king' or 'realm,' from the legendary Kayanian dynasty. That double pedigree has made it popular in Ireland, Britain, and Iran alike. Cian is the Irish spelling.
The standard spelling is Kian. Common variants include Cian, Kean, Keon, but Kian is the most widely used form.
peaked at #401 in 2025, currently #401 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Kian and the Irish Cian are the same; the Persian Kian shares the spelling with a separate 'king' meaning.
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
By meaning
By style