How to say it
KI · an
/ˈkiː.ən/
Masculine
Kian
Ancient; or king
What it means
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.
Popularity over time
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–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Kian and the Irish Cian are the same; the Persian Kian shares the spelling with a separate 'king' meaning.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Cian in Irish myth, the father of the god Lugh
Spelling variants
- Cian
- Kean
- Keon
Names with the same feeling
See Kian from another angle
By meaning
By style