Kieran
Meaninglittle dark one · Irish
- US rank
- #389
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #389 in 2025
817 babies were named Kieran in the US in 2025. It has climbed 125 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1949–2025
US births per million boys, 1918–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Kieran you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,091 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Kieran, 817 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Kieran would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKieran first shows up in US birth records in 1918, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 107 years since.
- Best yearKieran is at its all-time high right now: #389 in 2025.
- Then vs nowKieran is 2.3× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 4,721 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,091.
- TrendKieran has climbed 125 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #389. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedKieran is most popular in South Dakota, where it ranks #192, followed by Connecticut (#210) and Idaho (#214). It's in the top 1,000 in 37 states.
- MeaningIn Irish, Kieran means “little dark one”. Our records link it to Celtic and Irish roots.
About the name Kieran
Kieran is a boy name of Celtic and Irish origin meaning “little dark one”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-ran”. US birth records list Kieran for boys from 1918 to 2025, in 99 of those 108 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #389 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #389, with 817 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 2.9 | 344,828 girls |
| 1950s | 0.6 | 1,754,386 girls |
| 1960s | 2.7 | 364,964 girls |
| 1970s | 3.8 | 263,852 girls |
| 1980s | 6.9 | 144,300 girls |
| 1990s | 18 | 54,407 girls |
| 2000s | 32 | 31,319 girls |
| 2010s | 19 | 51,467 girls |
| 2020s | 11 | 94,488 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 4.0 | 253,165 boys |
| 1920s | 3.5 | 289,855 boys |
| 1930s | 4.5 | 220,751 boys |
| 1940s | 5.3 | 187,266 boys |
| 1950s | 11 | 91,912 boys |
| 1960s | 20 | 51,099 boys |
| 1970s | 25 | 39,888 boys |
| 1980s | 33 | 30,377 boys |
| 1990s | 113 | 8,861 boys |
| 2000s | 221 | 4,526 boys |
| 2010s | 281 | 3,554 boys |
| 2020s | 381 | 2,624 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Kieran
What does the name Kieran mean?
Kieran means “little dark one” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Kieran?
Kieran has Celtic, Irish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Kieran a boy or girl name?
Kieran is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Kieran?
Kieran ranked #389 for US boys in 2025, given to 817 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#389).