Given name & surname
Taran
“of the thunder”
Taran is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “of the thunder.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “of the thunder.”
Where it comes from
Taran is a variant of Tarin. An origin associated with Tarin is Irish. Taran is a variant of Terra. An origin associated with Terra is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1967. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Taran is a variant of Terra. The history of Terra gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Terra is associated with an earth goddess.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Taran through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,633
- 2,073 boys · 560 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 142 babies
- 2025
- 43
- #2,932 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 43 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,932 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 5.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 117 in 1992. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,278 as a first name in 2020; 544 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Taran’s family of names
Taran has a related form in Taryn. Taran has a related form in Terra. Taran has a related form in Tarun.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Taran has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Taran
- Taran KillamAmerican actor and comedianborn 1982
- Taran mac AinftechKing of the Picts601–699
- Taran AdarshFilm critic, journalist, editor, analyst (born 1965)
- Taran Noah SmithAmerican actor and businessmanborn 1984
- Taran GrantCanadian herpetologist at the University of São Paulo, Brazilborn 1972
- Taran ArmstrongAustralian basketball player (born 2002)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Taran, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tynan
“one who is dark and dusty”
>99% boys
Kaelan
“a mighty warrior”
85% boys · 15% girls
Caelan
“a slender warrior; one who is slender and fair”
89% boys · 11% girls
Tiernan
“lord of the manor”
95% boys · 5% girls
Torrin
“from the craggy hills”
98% boys · 2% girls
Daray
“a dark-skinned man”
>99% boys
Ernan
>99% boys
Macaulay
“the son of righteousness”
>99% boys