Kierran
Boy name · 17 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Kierran: 17 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 6 births in 1994.
Kierran is a modern variant of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ciaran, derived from *ciar* meaning ‘dark’ or ‘black’ and the diminutive suffix -*án*, giving it the affectionate sense of ‘little dark one’ – a name once given to children with dark hair. The most famous bearer is Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland who founded the great monastic settlement in the 6th century. The name’s linguistic root in *ciar* also appears in the place name Kintyre, the long peninsula in Argyll. Today, Kierran remains a popular spelling choice in Scotland, offering a fresh twist on a classic while keeping its Celtic heritage firmly intact.
Boy 4 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19946 babies
- Latest (1996)
- #4253 babies
- Total births
- 17since 1991
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y