Pronunciation
Keer-a
Meaning
Dark or dark-haired
Related forms: Ciara (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Ciara; Kiera
Fun fact
Keira is an Anglicised spelling connected with Ciara. Ciar means dark, the same root you'll find in Ciarán. The K spelling can make the sound easier to recognise for people who haven't come across Irish spelling before.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Keira, 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 | 4 | #718 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | 7 | #502 |
| 2021 | 3 | #883 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 5 | #621 |
| 2018 | 10 | #411 |
| 2017 | 10 | #396 |
| 2016 | 11 | #390 |
| 2015 | 17 | #291 |
| 2014 | 22 | #229 |
| 2013 | 27 | #207 |
| 2012 | 25 | #221 |
| 2011 | 31 | #189 |
| 2010 | 20 | #267 |
| 2009 | 20 | #254 |
| 2008 | 34 | #175 |
| 2007 | 39 | #157 |
| 2006 | 49 | #117 |
| 2005 | 28 | #160 |
| 2004 | 20 | #197 |
| 2003 | 10 | #314 |
| 2002 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2001 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | 5 | #417 |
| 1994 | 4 | #450 |
| 1993 | 5 | #415 |
| 1992 | 3 | #523 |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | 9 | #321 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 9 | #329 |
| 1987 | 13 | #272 |
| 1986 | 8 | #334 |
| 1985 | 14 | #254 |
| 1984 | 8 | #343 |
| 1983 | 12 | #288 |
| 1982 | 5 | #425 |
| 1981 | 7 | #363 |
| 1980 | 7 | #370 |
| 1979 | 5 | #420 |
| 1978 | 6 | #388 |
| 1977 | 4 | #468 |
| 1976 | 4 | #429 |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
