Given name & surname
Ciara
“a dark beauty”
Ciara is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “a dark beauty.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “a dark beauty.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
In English usage, Ciara is a feminine form of Ciaran. Ciara is a feminine form of Ciarán.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1972. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ciara through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 34,883
- 7 boys · 34,876 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 2,325 babies
- 2025
- 155
- #1,408 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 155 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,408 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,325 in 2005. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 31,895 as a first name in 2020; 122 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.
Ciara’s family of names
In English usage, Ciara is a feminine form of Ciaran. In English usage, Ciara has a related form in Kiara. In English usage, Ciara has a related form in Cierra.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kiaravariant · English
- Keiravariant · English
- Ciaranvariant · English
- Cierravariant · English
- Cieravariant
- Cyarravariant
- Cyaravariant
- Ciarravariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ciara
- CiaraAmerican singer, songwriter, and dancer (born 1985)
- Ciara BravoAmerican actress (born 1997)
- Ciara RenéeAmerican actressborn 1990
- Ciara HannaAmerican actress and model (born 1991)
- Ciara MageeanIrish athletics competitorborn 1992
- Ciara Horneformer Irish, current British racing cyclistborn 1989
- Ciara MichelBritish/American volleyball playerborn 1985
- CMATIrish musicianborn 1996
- Ciara WatlingNorthern Irish association football player (born 1992)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ciara, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Teagan
“one who is attractive; goodlooking” · “a handsome man”
9% boys · 91% girls
Mackenzie
Mackenzie is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
3% boys · 97% girls
Kiana
“from an ancient family” · “of an ancient family”
>99% girls
Brianna
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Keara
“little dark-haired one”
>99% girls
McKenna
“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Briana
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Cassidy
“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”
7% boys · 93% girls