Ciaran vs Simon
Ciaran and Simoncompared 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 2022, Ciaran was ranked #131 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ciaran was ranked #191 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ciaran was ranked #372 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ciaran was ranked #800 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Ciaran and Simon over time
Ciaran and Simon appear together in 3 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Ciaran held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Simon in 1.
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.
Simon 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 Simon changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #800 and #524.
- Longest-running competitions
Ciaran and Simon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #372 and #244.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Ciaran #26 in 1998, Simon #95 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ciaran held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Simon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #23 in 2000, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 2018: Simon moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #78 and #203; by 2018 that had become #520 and #231.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ciaran #372, Simon #244.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ciaran held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Simon in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #107 in 2004, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciaran #800, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Ciaran held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ciaran #26 in 1998, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ciaran #131, Simon #311.
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 | Ciaran | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| 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')); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Ciaran and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciaran; Simon 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 Simon 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 #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys