Given name & surname
Cian
“from an ancient family”
Cian is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “from an ancient family.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “from an ancient family.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1976. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cian through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,751
- 3,724 boys · 27 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 186 babies
- 2025
- 148
- #1,310 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 148 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,310 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 4.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 181 in 2007. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,966 as a first name in 2020; 104 as a surname in 2010.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cian’s family of names
In English usage, Cian has a diminutive in Keenan. Cian has an English adaptation in Kean. Cian has a related form in Cein.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Cian
- Cian UijtdebroeksBelgian cyclistborn 2003
- Cian O'ConnorIrish equestrianborn 1979
- Cian HealyIrish rugby union footballerborn 1987
- Cian ShieldsBritish racing driverborn 2005
- Cian O'Callaghanpoliticianborn 1979
- Cian Bolgerfootballerborn 1992
- Cian McPhillipsIrish middle-distance runner (born 2002)
- Cian DucrotIrish singerborn 1997
- Cian Harriesassociation football playerborn 1997
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Cian, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Keegan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
90% boys · 10% girls
Keagan
“small and fiery woman” · “a small and fiery man”
80% boys · 20% girls
Ieuan
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Keiran
“having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% boys
Caden
“a battlemaiden” · “spirt of battle •”
99% boys · 1% girls
Cowan
“from the hollow near the hill; one of twins”
>99% boys
Corgan
Corgan is a surname from Irish.
>99% boys
Keveen
Keveen is a masculine given name from Old Irish. It is used in Manx.
>99% boys