Kiernan
Boy name · #3401 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kiernan? In official American birth records, Kiernan has been tracked continuously since 1957, giving it 68 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 34 baby boys were named Kiernan, placing it at #3401 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2919, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 boys born in 2025 was named Kiernan.
Babies named Kiernan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 68-year story
Kiernan first appears in the Social Security records in 1957, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 77 boys were named Kiernan — good for #1874 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kiernan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kiernan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kiernan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kiernan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kiernan is most common
State-level data for Kiernan is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kiernan
Statistically, parents drawn to Kiernan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tiernan, Cainan, Keilan, Keylan, and Keyan.
TiernanCainanKeilanKeylanKeyanKamranQuinlanYonatan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kiernan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #3379 |
| 2024 | 39 | #3104 |
| 2023 | 29 | #3802 |
| 2022 | 31 | #3617 |
| 2021 | 41 | #2972 |
| 2020 | 33 | #3344 |
| 2019 | 29 | #3716 |
| 2018 | 43 | #2796 |
| 2017 | 54 | #2388 |
| 2016 | 32 | #3441 |
| 2015 | 40 | #2919 |
| 2014 | 42 | #2805 |
| 2013 | 34 | #3189 |
| 2012 | 41 | #2869 |
| 2011 | 60 | #2173 |
| 2010 | 74 | #1913 |
| 2009 | 66 | #2077 |
| 2008 | 77 | #1874 |
| 2007 | 66 | #2071 |
| 2006 | 49 | #2477 |
| 2005 | 67 | #1889 |
| 2004 | 56 | #2102 |
| 2003 | 69 | #1749 |
| 2002 | 67 | #1723 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kiernan?
In official American birth records, the name Kiernan first appeared in 1957 (over 68 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 68 years.
Is Kiernan a popular boy name?
Kiernan ranked #3401 among boys in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2919.
When was the name Kiernan most popular?
Kiernan peaked in 2008, when 77 American boys received the name (ranked #1874 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kiernan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American boys was named Kiernan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.