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