What does Cian mean?
Cian means “ancient” or “enduring” in Irish.
What does Ciaran mean?
Ciarán means “little dark one,” from ciar, “black.”
Cian vs Ciaran
Which is more popular?
Cian is more popular than Ciaran today: about 148 US babies were given the name Cian in 2025, compared with 105 named Ciaran.
| Cian | Ciaran | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Ancient, enduring | Little dark one |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KEE-un | KEER-awn |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1976 | 1959 |
| Peak year | 2007 (181) | 2025 (105) |
| In 2025 | 148 | 105 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cian
Ciaran
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cian | Ciaran |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 793 | 503 |
| 2010s | 1,413 | 688 |
| 2000s | 1,184 | 609 |
| 1990s | 260 | 303 |
| 1980s | 59 | 62 |
| 1970s | 15 | 17 |
| 1960s | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cian or Ciaran more popular?
Cian is more popular than Ciaran today: about 148 US babies were given the name Cian in 2025, compared with 105 named Ciaran.
What is the difference between Cian and Ciaran?
Cian means Ancient, enduring (Irish origin), while Ciaran means Little dark one (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Cian or Ciaran?
In US records, Cian first appears in 1976 and Ciaran in 1959, so Ciaran has the longer recorded history.