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Kieren

Boy name · 248 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kieren: 248 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 23 births in 1995.

Kieren is a variant of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ciaran, derived from "ciar" meaning "dark" and the diminutive suffix "-an," so it translates as "little dark one" or "dark-haired." The spelling with an "ie" is a common anglicisation, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. Famous bearers include Irish jockey Kieren Fallon, who won multiple British flat racing championships, and Australian swimmer Kieren Perkins, a double Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 metres freestyle. The name also appears in the acting world with Kieren Hutchison, a New Zealand performer. While no major places are named directly after a Kieren, the original form Ciaran is shared with several early Irish saints, most notably St. Ci