How to say it
KIE · ran
ˈkɪər.ən
Masculine
Kieran
Little dark one
What it means
The anglicized Irish Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar ('black, dark'), so 'little dark-haired one.'
Kieran is the anglicized spelling of the Irish Ciarán, 'little dark one,' from ciar, 'black,' a name for a dark-haired child. St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. It is warm, soft, and unmistakably Irish, carried today by actor Kieran Culkin. Ciarán is the Irish spelling; Kieron and Keiran are variants.
How to spell Kieran
The standard spelling is Kieran. Common variants include Ciarán, Kieron, Keiran, but Kieran is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #389 in 2025, currently #389 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
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Kieran is the anglicized Ciarán; both mean 'little dark one.'
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.
- Kieran Culkin American actor (Succession)
- St. Ciarán founder of Clonmacnoise, an Apostle of Ireland
Spelling variants
- Ciarán
- Kieron
- Keiran
Names with the same feeling
See Kieran from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kieran mean?
- The anglicized Irish Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar ('black, dark'), so 'little dark-haired one.'
- What does Kieran mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Kieran means "Little dark one." Kieran is the anglicized spelling of the Irish Ciarán, 'little dark one,' from ciar, 'black,' a name for a dark-haired child. St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. It is warm, soft, and unmistakably Irish, carried today by actor Kieran Culkin. Ciarán is the Irish spelling; Kieron and Keiran are variants.
- How do you pronounce Kieran?
- Kieran is pronounced ˈkɪər.ən. Say it as KIE-ran, with the stress on the "kie" syllable.
- How do you spell Kieran?
- The standard spelling is Kieran. Common spelling variants include Ciarán, Kieron, Keiran.
- Is Kieran a boy or girl name?
- Kieran is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Kieran?
- Kieran ranked #389 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.