What does Ciaran mean?
Ciarán means “little dark one,” from ciar, “black.”
What does Eoin mean?
Eoin is an Irish form of John, “God is gracious.”
Ciaran vs Eoin
Which is more popular?
Ciaran is more popular than Eoin today: about 105 US babies were given the name Ciaran in 2025, compared with 45 named Eoin.
| Ciaran | Eoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little dark one | God is gracious |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KEER-awn | OH-in |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1959 | 1971 |
| Peak year | 2025 (105) | 2020 (75) |
| In 2025 | 105 | 45 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ciaran
Eoin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ciaran | Eoin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 503 | 318 |
| 2010s | 688 | 511 |
| 2000s | 609 | 502 |
| 1990s | 303 | 203 |
| 1980s | 62 | 54 |
| 1970s | 17 | 16 |
| 1960s | 10 | 0 |
| 1950s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ciaran or Eoin more popular?
Ciaran is more popular than Eoin today: about 105 US babies were given the name Ciaran in 2025, compared with 45 named Eoin.
What is the difference between Ciaran and Eoin?
Ciaran means Little dark one (Irish origin), while Eoin means God is gracious (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Ciaran or Eoin?
In US records, Ciaran first appears in 1959 and Eoin in 1971, so Ciaran has the longer recorded history.