Ciaran
/ˈkʲiə.rˠən̪ˠ/noun
An Irish male given name meaning “little dark one.”
Did you know?The name comes from Irish ciar, meaning “dark” or “black,” plus the diminutive suffix -án, so it was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion.
Etymological Timeline
Old Irish
OIr
ciar
“dark, black, dusky”
Old Irish
OIr
-án
“diminutive suffix meaning little”
Early Medieval Irish
Irish
Ciarán
“little dark one; a personal name”
Middle Irish
Irish
Ciarán
“established male given name, especially in saintly tradition”
Modern English
English
Ciaran
“Irish male given name”