Names › Boys' names › K › Kieran

Kieran

Meaning: little dark one · Origin: Irish · Gender: usually a boy's name

Origin & history

From Irish Ciarán, 'little dark one'. Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise founded one of Ireland's great monasteries.

Famous people named Kieran

Kieran Culkin (actor)
Kieran Trippier (footballer)

Nicknames

Kier

Variants & related names

Ciarán, Kieron, Keiran

Kieran name art

A free preview of a printable “Kieran” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Kieran mean?

Kieran means “little dark one”. It comes from Irish.

Is Kieran a popular name?

Kieran is a familiar boys' name in the UK and Australia. For exact current rankings, see the Office for National Statistics (England and Wales) and Australian state birth registries.

What are nicknames for Kieran?

Kier.

What are other forms of Kieran?

Ciarán, Kieron, Keiran.

Similar names

Kian · Liam · Aiden · Ryan · Nolan · Connor

More: names starting with K · all boys' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.