Pronunciation
Kee-an / Kee-in / Keen
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Ancient
Alternate spellings
Cían
Fun fact
Cian appears in Irish mythology, and is the father of Lugh. It's a really old name, which fits its ancient meaning! I know a lot of Cians, so it's still very familiar in Ireland.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Cian, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 142 | #33 |
| 2024 | 158 | #33 |
| 2023 | 156 | #29 |
| 2022 | 185 | #28 |
| 2021 | 217 | #23 |
| 2020 | 203 | #24 |
| 2019 | 200 | #32 |
| 2018 | 241 | #27 |
| 2017 | 291 | #19 |
| 2016 | 344 | #13 |
| 2015 | 358 | #14 |
| 2014 | 361 | #18 |
| 2013 | 368 | #17 |
| 2012 | 406 | #15 |
| 2011 | 461 | #13 |
| 2010 | 424 | #14 |
| 2009 | 469 | #12 |
| 2008 | 493 | #11 |
| 2007 | 527 | #9 |
| 2006 | 520 | #8 |
| 2005 | 561 | #7 |
| 2004 | 546 | #7 |
| 2003 | 501 | #8 |
| 2002 | 536 | #7 |
| 2001 | 557 | #6 |
| 2000 | 557 | #6 |
| 1999 | 420 | #12 |
| 1998 | 362 | #12 |
| 1997 | 402 | #18 |
| 1996 | 360 | #22 |
| 1995 | 264 | #31 |
| 1994 | 267 | #31 |
| 1993 | 246 | #34 |
| 1992 | 204 | #38 |
| 1991 | 228 | #37 |
| 1990 | 189 | #45 |
| 1989 | 144 | #51 |
| 1988 | 122 | #62 |
| 1987 | 115 | #65 |
| 1986 | 127 | #59 |
| 1985 | 99 | #73 |
| 1984 | 84 | #77 |
| 1983 | 63 | #92 |
| 1982 | 72 | #89 |
| 1981 | 71 | #89 |
| 1980 | 59 | #103 |
| 1979 | 58 | #103 |
| 1978 | 53 | #109 |
| 1977 | 45 | #112 |
| 1976 | 40 | #117 |
| 1975 | 25 | #137 |
| 1974 | 20 | #154 |
| 1973 | 21 | #152 |
| 1972 | 16 | #168 |
| 1971 | 13 | #179 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1969 | 9 | #196 |
| 1968 | 3 | #267 |
| 1967 | 8 | #187 |
| 1966 | 8 | #177 |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.