Ciaran vs Kennedy

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ciaran

Boy #1,779 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"little dark one"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish Scottish British

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,779
Total SSA Count
92
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Kier, Ciar

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ciaran →

Kennedy

Girl #89 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"ugly head (from ceann donn)"

Origin: Irish

Cultural Roots

Irish American Scottish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#89
Total SSA Count
2,881
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ken, Kenny, Kenna

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Kennedy →

Popularity Comparison

Ciaran Rank #1,779
Kennedy Rank #89

Kennedy is more popular, ranked #89 vs #1779 for Ciaran.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ciaran ___

  • Ciaran James
  • Ciaran Patrick
  • Ciaran Finn
  • Ciaran Declan
  • Ciaran John
  • Ciaran Liam

Kennedy ___

  • Kennedy Grace
  • Kennedy Rose
  • Kennedy Mae
  • Kennedy Claire
  • Kennedy Jane
  • Kennedy Anne

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ciaran

Aoife Niamh Conor Declan Fionnuala

If you choose Kennedy

Reagan Quinn Avery Riley Connor

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 Ciaran or Kennedy more popular?

Kennedy is more popular, ranked #89 compared to Ciaran at #1779 in the United States.

What do Ciaran and Kennedy mean?

Ciaran means "little dark one" (Irish Gaelic origin). Kennedy means "ugly head (from ceann donn)" (Irish origin).

Are Ciaran and Kennedy boy or girl names?

Ciaran is primarily a boy name. Kennedy is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Ciaran ← Full profile: Kennedy Browse all baby names