Kieran

Kieran is a masculine given name of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ciarán, which derives from ciár or ciar meaning “dark” or “black” with the diminutive suffix -án, yielding “little dark one” or “little dark-haired one.” The spelling has many variants, including Ciarán, Ciáran, Kiernan, and Kieren.

In Ireland, Ciarán/Kieran has medieval roots and has remained common; in the English-speaking world it spread through immigration and the Irish diaspora, particularly to Britain and North America. The name is primarily masculine, though related forms exist in female names such as Ciara in Irish.

Notable people named Kieran include actor Kieran Culkin; footballers Kieran Gibbs, Kieran Tierney, and Kieran Trippier; and rugby union player Kieran Read.

Pronunciation varies; in English it is commonly pronounced KEER-ən, while the Gaelic form is closer to KEER-awn.

Related names and variants include Kiernan, Kieren, and Ciarán; the surname Kiernan is common in Ireland and the British Isles.