Namewise

Ciaran vs Jensen

Ciaran and Jensencompared 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 2024, Ciaran was ranked #216 and Jensen #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Ciaran was ranked #191 and Jensen #432 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Ciaran was ranked #800 and Jensen #318 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Ciaran was ranked #372 and Jensen #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Ciaran and Jensen over time

Ciaran and Jensen appear together in 3 published lists, across 53 years of shared records. Ciaran held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jensen in 1.

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.

Ciaran reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Jensen 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 2024, Jensen moved ahead of Ciaran in Northern Ireland · Boys — #169 and #249 the year before became #216 and #187.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ciaran and Jensen changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2009 and 2024, ending at #216 and #187.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Ciaran held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jensen in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Ciaran #107 in 2004, Jensen #160 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2010: Jensen moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #238 and #245; by 2010 that had become #280 and #203.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciaran #800, Jensen #318.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 20092024

    Ciaran held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jensen in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ciaran #62 in 2009, Jensen #127 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2024: Jensen moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #169 and #249; by 2024 that had become #216 and #187.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciaran #216, Jensen #187.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 20112025

    Ciaran held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jensen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ciaran #57 in 2011, Jensen #364 in 2021.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ciaran #372, Jensen #676.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ciaran, Jensen
FieldCiaranJensen
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginIrish, from Old Irish ciar ('dark')Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈciə.ɾˠaːnˠ/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesCiarán, Kieran, Kieron, KyranNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Ciaran has a recorded origin (Irish, from Old Irish ciar ('dark')); Jensen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ciaran and Jensen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ciaran; Jensen 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 Jensen 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Jensen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1765 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2009–2024

    Highest recorded position: #127 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2019 (recorded 2009–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys