Name
Kieran
Meaning
Kieran is a masculine name of Irish origin meaning “little dark one”.
Kieran anglicizes Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar, dark, and belonged to two of Ireland's most venerated early saints, including the founder of the great monastery at Clonmacnoise. Actor Kieran Culkin has given the name fresh visibility in America.
A steady US top-600 boys' name and a longtime favorite in Ireland and Britain.
Popularity in the United States
Boys
Ranked #389 in 2025 · peak #389 in 2025
Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.
At a glance
- Origin
- Irish
- Gender
- Masculine
- Pronounced
- /KEER-an/
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Questions
Kieran is a masculine name of Irish origin meaning “little dark one”. Kieran anglicizes Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar, dark, and belonged to two of Ireland's most venerated early saints, including the founder of the great monastery at Clonmacnoise.
Kieran is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. It is a steady US top-600 boys' name and a longtime favorite in Ireland and Britain.
The name Kieran comes from Irish. Kieran anglicizes Ciarán, a diminutive of ciar, dark, and belonged to two of Ireland's most venerated early saints, including the founder of the great monastery at Clonmacnoise. Actor Kieran Culkin has given the name fresh visibility in America.
Kieran is pronounced KEER-an.
More names that mean dark
Names that share this meaning.