Cian vs Craig
Cian and Craig compared 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, Cian was ranked #29 and Craig #516 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Cian was ranked #67 and Craig #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cian was ranked #181 and Craig #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Cian was ranked #338 and Craig #1705 among boys in England and Wales.
Cian and Craig over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Cian and Craig over time
Cian and Craig appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Cian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Craig in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Cian in none. 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 2004, Cian moved ahead of Craig in England and Wales · Boys — #194 and #187 the year before became #177 and #222.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cian and Craig changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1966 and 2023, ending at #29 and #516.
- Mirrored each other
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as Craig fell — from #177 and #256 in 1966 to #29 and #516 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Cian and Craig were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #338 and #1705.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1966–2023
Cian held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Craig in 4.
Highest recorded here: Cian #6 in 2000, Craig #39 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Cian #29, Craig #516.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Cian held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Craig in 8.
Highest recorded here: Cian #177 in 2004, Craig #81 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Cian moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #194 and #187; by 2004 that had become #177 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cian #338, Craig #1705.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1998–2015
Cian held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Craig in 7.
Highest recorded here: Cian #67 in 2015, Craig #77 in 1998.
The order changed in 2005: Cian moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #125 and #121; by 2005 that had become #93 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Cian #67, Craig #415.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Cian
Pairs where Cian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Cian vs Dean
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as Dean fell — from #177 and #229 in 1966 to #33 and #432 in 2025.
Cian · Dean · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- George vs Cian
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as George fell — from #55 and #177 in 1966 to #112 and #33 in 2025.
George · Cian · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Cian vs Jonathan
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #177 and #103 in 1966 to #33 and #223 in 2025.
Cian · Jonathan · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Cian vs Ross
Over 59 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cian rose about as far as Ross fell — from #177 and #199 in 1966 to #33 and #329 in 2025.
Cian · Ross · 59 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Craig
Pairs where Craig shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Craig vs Harrison
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #86 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #50.
Craig · Harrison · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #3256.
Craig · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #267.
Craig · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Declan
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #372.
Craig · Declan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Cian | Craig |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'ancient' or 'enduring'. | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. |
| Origin | Irish | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːən/ | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Kian | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1705 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Cian is recorded with a Irish origin, while Craig is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) origin.
- Cian and Craig both have 1 syllable.
- Cian's recorded meaning differs from Craig's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Cian a "high" Data Confidence level and Craig a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #338 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys