Ciaran

Ciaran (Ciarán) is a male first name with Irish and Celtic origins and is often regarded as a diminutive of the traditional Gaelic-Irish name Ciar. Its direct translation is "the black one", "the little dark-haired one", or occasionally "the twilight".

What does the name Ciaran mean?

The name Ciaran (Ciarán) has Irish and Celtic origins and is considered a diminutive of the ancient Gaelic-Irish name Ciar. It can be directly translated as "the black one", "the little dark-haired one", or sometimes even "the twilight". This meaning derives from the Old Irish word cíar, which means "black" or "dark". In Ireland, Ciaran was an extremely common first name among saints. Particularly well-known are Kieran of Seir Kieran (also called Kieran the Elder), who became famous for his hermitage in the Slieve Blooms and is celebrated on March 5, and Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise, a short-lived founder of a monastery, whose feast day falls on September 9. Variants of the name include Kieran, Kieron, Cieran, Chiaran, Kieren, Kiaran, Keiran, and Kyran.

Where does the name Ciaran come from?

The first name Ciaran has its roots in Old Irish and Celtic and means "the black one". The Old Irish word cíar stands for "black" or "dark".

How do you pronounce Ciaran?

The pronunciation of Ciaran is clear and two-syllable. It is generally pronounced as "Ki-a-ran" [ˈkɪərən] or [ˈkiːərən], with the bright beginning creating an open and light timbre. The gentle ending syllable with a reduced vowel provides a harmonious rounding. This gives Ciaran a lively and approachable impression – modern in sound, with a soft yet present aura.

When is the name day of Ciaran?

Ciaran's name day is celebrated on March 5 and September 9.

Popularity

In Germany, Ciaran is a relatively common first name. In the ranking of the most popular male first names, it currently holds the 4,024th place. Its best ranking was in 2011 when it reached 1,564th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given about 60 times, placing it at 3,248th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,212th.

Nicknames & pet names

Kiki / Kiri / Kirikese

Similar first names

Famous people

• Ciaran Berry (poet from the USA)
• Ciaran Bourke (Polish singer)
• Ciaran Brennan (Irish musician)
• Ciaran Byrne (Grenadian football player)
• Ciaran Clark (English footballer)
• Ciaran Donnelly (film director from Ireland)
• Ciaran Donnelly (British footballer)
• Ciaran Dunphy (Irish writer)
• Ciaran Farrell (composer from Ireland)
• Ciarán Fitzgerald (Irish actor)
• Ciaran Gourley (footballer from England)
• Ciaran Greene (Grenadian football player)
• Ciaran Gribbin (British musician)
• Ciaran Griffiths (English actor)
• Ciaran Hearn (rugby player from Canada)
• Ciaran Hinds (actor)
• Ciaran Kelly (Irish football player)
• Ciaran Kilduff (footballer from Ireland)
• Ciaran Kilheeney (football player from Great Britain)
• Ciaran Kilkenny (footballer from Ireland)