What does Ciaran mean?
Ciarán means “little dark one,” from ciar, “black.”
What does Tadhg mean?
Tadhg means “poet” or “philosopher” in Irish.
Ciaran vs Tadhg
Which is more popular?
Ciaran is more popular than Tadhg today: about 105 US babies were given the name Ciaran in 2025, compared with 30 named Tadhg.
| Ciaran | Tadhg | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little dark one | Poet |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KEER-awn | TYGE |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1959 | 1992 |
| Peak year | 2025 (105) | 2023 (46) |
| In 2025 | 105 | 30 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ciaran
Tadhg
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ciaran | Tadhg |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 503 | 233 |
| 2010s | 688 | 214 |
| 2000s | 609 | 126 |
| 1990s | 303 | 40 |
| 1980s | 62 | 0 |
| 1970s | 17 | 0 |
| 1960s | 10 | 0 |
| 1950s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ciaran or Tadhg more popular?
Ciaran is more popular than Tadhg today: about 105 US babies were given the name Ciaran in 2025, compared with 30 named Tadhg.
What is the difference between Ciaran and Tadhg?
Ciaran means Little dark one (Irish origin), while Tadhg means Poet (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Ciaran or Tadhg?
In US records, Ciaran first appears in 1959 and Tadhg in 1992, so Ciaran has the longer recorded history.