Bailey vs Cian
Bailey and Ciancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Bailey was ranked #516 and Cian #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bailey was ranked #256 and Cian #45 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bailey was ranked #268 and Cian #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bailey was ranked #249 and Cian #355 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2006, Bailey was ranked #438 and Cian #5061 among girls in England and Wales.
Bailey and Cian over time
Bailey and Cian appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Bailey in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Cian moved ahead of Bailey in Northern Ireland · Boys — #101 and #123 the year before became #129 and #101.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bailey and Cian changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1998 and 2024, ending at #256 and #45.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as Bailey fell — from #150 and #182 in 1998 to #256 and #45 in 2024.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bailey #62 in 2005, Cian #177 in 2004.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bailey held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Cian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bailey #62 in 2005, Cian #177 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bailey #249, Cian #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1998–2024
Bailey held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Cian in 19.
Highest recorded here: Bailey #83 in 2002, Cian #45 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Cian moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #101 and #123; by 2008 that had become #129 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bailey #256, Cian #45.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1998–2023
Bailey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Cian in 23.
Highest recorded here: Bailey #232 in 2006, Cian #6 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Bailey #516, Cian #29.
England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 1996–2006
Bailey held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Cian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bailey #337 in 2003, Cian #2152 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Bailey #438, Cian #5061.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Bailey | Cian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'ancient' or 'enduring'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkiːən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Kian |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland #24 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Cian has a recorded origin (Irish); Bailey does not have one recorded yet.
- Bailey has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Cian.
- A meaning is recorded for Cian; Bailey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bailey a "medium" Data Confidence level and Cian a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Bailey
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #848 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2014
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Cian
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #177 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #24 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland