Arlen vs Cian

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Arlen

Boy #1,688 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"pledge, oath"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,688
Total SSA Count
99
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Arl, Ary, Arie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Arlen →

Cian

Boy #1,535 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"ancient, enduring, long-lived"

Origin: Old Irish

Cultural Roots

Irish Celtic Irish diaspora

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,535
Total SSA Count
115
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ki, Ci

Playground Safety Score

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Cian' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Full profile for Cian →

Popularity Comparison

Arlen Rank #1,688
Cian Rank #1,535

Cian is more popular, ranked #1535 vs #1688 for Arlen.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Arlen ___

  • Arlen James
  • Arlen Scott
  • Arlen Ray
  • Arlen Dean
  • Arlen Cole

Cian ___

  • Cian Patrick
  • Cian Finn
  • Cian Declan
  • Cian Joseph
  • Cian Seamus
  • Cian Brendan

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Arlen

Marlowe Harlan Cora Vivian Dale

If you choose Cian

Roisin Aoife Niall Brendan Siobhan

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlen or Cian more popular?

Cian is more popular, ranked #1535 compared to Arlen at #1688 in the United States.

What do Arlen and Cian mean?

Arlen means "pledge, oath" (Irish Gaelic origin). Cian means "ancient, enduring, long-lived" (Old Irish origin).

Are Arlen and Cian boy or girl names?

Arlen is primarily a boy name. Cian is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Arlen ← Full profile: Cian Browse all baby names