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Kieron

Boy name · 454 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kieron: 454 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 28 births in 1992.

Kieron is an Irish and Scottish variant of Ciaran, derived from the Gaelic *ciar* meaning “dark” or “black,” so the name essentially means “little dark one” or “black-haired.” It became popular in Scotland as an alternative spelling to the more traditional Ciaran. Among notable bearers are English footballer Kieron Dyer, who played for Newcastle United and West Ham, and Kieron Richardson, the British actor best known for playing Ste Hay in the soap opera *Hollyoaks*. There are no major place names directly tied to the name, but its root appears in the Irish place name Ciarraí (County Kerry), home of the Ciarraige tribe. In Scotland, Kieron has consistently ranked as a modestly popular boys’ name since the 1970s, often chosen for its strong yet approachable sound and its link to Celtic heritage.