Ciaran vs Alister

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ciaran

Boy #1,779 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"little dark one"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Irish Scottish British

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,650 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek via Gaelic

Scottish British Irish

✓ All Clear

Ciaran Rank #1,779

Alister Rank #1,650

Alister is more popular, ranked #1650 vs #1779 for Ciaran.

Is Ciaran or Alister more popular?

Alister is more popular, ranked #1650 compared to Ciaran at #1779 in the United States.

What do Ciaran and Alister mean?

Ciaran means "little dark one" (Irish Gaelic origin). Alister means "defender of men" (Greek via Gaelic origin).

Are Ciaran and Alister boy or girl names?

Ciaran is primarily a boy name. Alister is primarily a boy name.