Pronunciation
Keer-a / Kee-uh-ra
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Dark-haired; dark
Alternate spellings
Ceara; Keira; Kiera
Fun fact
Ciara comes from ciar, the Irish word for dark. It's the feminine form of Ciarán, and I think we all know a Ciara here in Ireland! You'll also see the spelling Ceara, while Keira and Kiera are anglicised forms.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Ciara, 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 | 44 | #106 |
| 2024 | 53 | #91 |
| 2023 | 53 | #95 |
| 2022 | 75 | #74 |
| 2021 | 94 | #65 |
| 2020 | 107 | #48 |
| 2019 | 122 | #49 |
| 2018 | 126 | #43 |
| 2017 | 139 | #41 |
| 2016 | 158 | #39 |
| 2015 | 205 | #29 |
| 2014 | 198 | #28 |
| 2013 | 214 | #29 |
| 2012 | 227 | #32 |
| 2011 | 284 | #26 |
| 2010 | 364 | #17 |
| 2009 | 337 | #19 |
| 2008 | 400 | #14 |
| 2007 | 410 | #12 |
| 2006 | 408 | #10 |
| 2005 | 484 | #6 |
| 2004 | 500 | #6 |
| 2003 | 535 | #4 |
| 2002 | 577 | #3 |
| 2001 | 552 | #5 |
| 2000 | 608 | #3 |
| 1999 | 585 | #4 |
| 1998 | 539 | #2 |
| 1997 | 624 | #3 |
| 1996 | 596 | #4 |
| 1995 | 572 | #6 |
| 1994 | 559 | #5 |
| 1993 | 532 | #7 |
| 1992 | 570 | #4 |
| 1991 | 556 | #5 |
| 1990 | 596 | #5 |
| 1989 | 547 | #4 |
| 1988 | 564 | #5 |
| 1987 | 556 | #6 |
| 1986 | 570 | #6 |
| 1985 | 540 | #8 |
| 1984 | 438 | #13 |
| 1983 | 406 | #18 |
| 1982 | 391 | #19 |
| 1981 | 363 | #22 |
| 1980 | 352 | #25 |
| 1979 | 289 | #32 |
| 1978 | 249 | #38 |
| 1977 | 222 | #40 |
| 1976 | 211 | #41 |
| 1975 | 181 | #49 |
| 1974 | 185 | #47 |
| 1973 | 165 | #56 |
| 1972 | 144 | #59 |
| 1971 | 139 | #63 |
| 1970 | 105 | #79 |
| 1969 | 111 | #68 |
| 1968 | 72 | #95 |
| 1967 | 41 | #135 |
| 1966 | 57 | #108 |
| 1965 | 35 | #139 |
| 1964 | 26 | #146 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
