Pronunciation
Kee-an / Kee-in / Keen
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Ancient
Alternate spellings
Cían
Fun fact
In Irish mythology, Cian is the father of Lugh, the many-skilled hero. A name meaning ‘ancient’ really does have an ancient story behind it.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Cian, 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.
#33Rank among boy names in 2025142Babies registered in 2025
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 | 142 | #33 |
| 2024 | 158 | #33 |
| 2023 | 156 | #29 |
| 2022 | 185 | #28 |
| 2021 | 217 | #23 |
| 2020 | 203 | #24 |
| 2019 | 200 | #32 |
| 2018 | 241 | #27 |
| 2017 | 291 | #19 |
| 2016 | 344 | #13 |
| 2015 | 358 | #14 |
| 2014 | 361 | #18 |
| 2013 | 368 | #17 |
| 2012 | 406 | #15 |
| 2011 | 461 | #13 |
| 2010 | 424 | #14 |
| 2009 | 469 | #12 |
| 2008 | 493 | #11 |
| 2007 | 527 | #9 |
| 2006 | 520 | #8 |
| 2005 | 561 | #7 |
| 2004 | 546 | #7 |
| 2003 | 501 | #8 |
| 2002 | 536 | #7 |
| 2001 | 557 | #6 |
| 2000 | 557 | #6 |
| 1999 | 420 | #12 |
| 1998 | 362 | #12 |
| 1997 | 402 | #18 |
| 1996 | 360 | #22 |
| 1995 | 264 | #31 |
| 1994 | 267 | #31 |
| 1993 | 246 | #34 |
| 1992 | 204 | #38 |
| 1991 | 228 | #37 |
| 1990 | 189 | #45 |
| 1989 | 144 | #51 |
| 1988 | 122 | #62 |
| 1987 | 115 | #65 |
| 1986 | 127 | #59 |
| 1985 | 99 | #73 |
| 1984 | 84 | #77 |
| 1983 | 63 | #92 |
| 1982 | 72 | #89 |
| 1981 | 71 | #89 |
| 1980 | 59 | #103 |
| 1979 | 58 | #103 |
| 1978 | 53 | #109 |
| 1977 | 45 | #112 |
| 1976 | 40 | #117 |
| 1975 | 25 | #137 |
| 1974 | 20 | #154 |
| 1973 | 21 | #152 |
| 1972 | 16 | #168 |
| 1971 | 13 | #179 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1969 | 9 | #196 |
| 1968 | 3 | #267 |
| 1967 | 8 | #187 |
| 1966 | 8 | #177 |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.