Ciaran vs Damien
Ciaran and Damiencompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ciaran was ranked #169 and Damien #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ciaran was ranked #191 and Damien #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ciaran was ranked #372 and Damien #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ciaran was ranked #953 and Damien #745 among boys in England and Wales.
Ciaran and Damien over time
Ciaran and Damien appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Ciaran held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Damien in 0.
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.
Damien reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ciaran 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ciaran and Damien changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #372 and #468.
- Longest-running competitions
Ciaran and Damien were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #953 and #745.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ciaran #107 in 2004, Damien #280 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ciaran held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Damien in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #23 in 2000, Damien #34 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ciaran #372, Damien #468.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ciaran held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Damien in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #107 in 2004, Damien #280 in 2003.
The order changed in 2019: Damien moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #646 and #731; by 2019 that had become #753 and #589.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ciaran #953, Damien #745.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2023
Ciaran held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Damien in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #26 in 1998, Damien #134 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ciaran #169, Damien #395.
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 Ciaran
Pairs where Ciaran shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Liam vs Ciaran
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #49 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #372.
Liam · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Conor vs Ciaran
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #49 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #372.
Conor · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Ciaran
Andrew and Ciaran changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #216.
Andrew · Ciaran · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Ciaran
Ian and Ciaran changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #372.
Ian · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Ciaran | Damien |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The unaccented catalogue spelling of Ciarán, a diminutive of Ciar ('black, dark') — borne by two 6th-century Irish saints, Ciarán the Elder (founder of Saighir) and Ciarán the Younger (founder of Clonmacnoise). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish, from Old Irish ciar ('dark') | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈciə.ɾˠaːnˠ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ciarán, Kieran, Kieron, Kyran | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #468 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Ciaran has a recorded origin (Irish, from Old Irish ciar ('dark')); Damien does not have one recorded yet.
- Ciaran and Damien both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciaran; Damien doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Ciaran a "high" Data Confidence level and Damien a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Ciaran
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #49 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #953 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Damien
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #75 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–1993
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1969–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #745 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys