Pronunciation
Kee-an
Meaning
Ancient or enduring, in its Irish origin
Related forms: Cian (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Cian
Fun fact
Kian is an Anglicised spelling of Cian, an old Irish name meaning ancient. Kian also exists separately as a Persian name. So the same spelling can have two different histories, depending on which tradition a family is choosing.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Kian, 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 | 29 | #170 |
| 2024 | 29 | #174 |
| 2023 | 26 | #193 |
| 2022 | 24 | #214 |
| 2021 | 22 | #225 |
| 2020 | 21 | #226 |
| 2019 | 34 | #167 |
| 2018 | 26 | #214 |
| 2017 | 27 | #210 |
| 2016 | 43 | #147 |
| 2015 | 46 | #136 |
| 2014 | 72 | #103 |
| 2013 | 42 | #152 |
| 2012 | 63 | #112 |
| 2011 | 77 | #101 |
| 2010 | 60 | #126 |
| 2009 | 79 | #95 |
| 2008 | 88 | #89 |
| 2007 | 72 | #101 |
| 2006 | 77 | #85 |
| 2005 | 91 | #74 |
| 2004 | 102 | #67 |
| 2003 | 106 | #65 |
| 2002 | 86 | #73 |
| 2001 | 106 | #63 |
| 2000 | 50 | #99 |
| 1999 | 17 | #169 |
| 1998 | 6 | #242 |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 |
| 1996 | 3 | #369 |
| 1995 | 6 | #261 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | 3 | #337 |
| 1991 | 3 | #324 |
| 1990 | 5 | #256 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1987 | 4 | #272 |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | 3 | #322 |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 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.
