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Cairan

Boy name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cairan: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 1992.

Cairan—a variant of the more common Ciaran or Kieran—has deep Gaelic roots. It derives from the Old Irish word *ciar*, meaning "black" or "dark," and was originally given to a child with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, the diminutive suffix *-án* making it "little dark one." The most famous bearer is Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, a 6th-century Irish bishop and founder of the monastery of Clonmacnoise, a major centre of learning. The name shares its etymological root with the given name Ciara, its feminine form. While less historically prominent in Scotland than in Ireland, Cairan has appeared regularly in Scottish birth records since the 1970s, often chosen by parents seeking the familiar sound of Kieran with a distinctly Gaelic spelling.