Kiernan
Boy name · #3401 in 2025 · Uniqueness 76/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Kiernan scores 76 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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 sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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
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. It scores 76/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.