Cillian vs Darran
Cillian and Darrancompared 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 1998, Cillian was ranked #60 and Darran #369 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2017, Cillian was ranked #324 and Darran #4812 among boys in England and Wales.
Cillian and Darran over time
Cillian and Darran appear together in 2 published lists, across 36 years of shared records. Cillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Darran 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.
Darran reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Cillian 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 1984, Cillian moved ahead of Darran in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #132 and #132 the year before became #148 and #192.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cillian and Darran changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 1998, ending at #60 and #369.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Darran fell — from #305 and #167 in 1970 to #60 and #369 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1970–1998
Cillian held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Darran in 9.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #60 in 1998, Darran #132 in 1983.
The order changed in 1984: Cillian moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #132 and #132; by 1984 that had become #148 and #192.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Cillian #60, Darran #369.
England and Wales · Boys8 shared years, 1996–2017
Cillian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Darran in 2.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #324 in 2017, Darran #1345 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Cillian #324, Darran #4812.
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 | Cillian | Darran |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Probably from Old Irish 'cell' (church) combined with a diminutive suffix. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #9 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4812 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cillian has a recorded origin (Irish); Darran does not have one recorded yet.
- Cillian and Darran both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Cillian; Darran doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Cillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Darran
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–1998
Highest recorded position: #132 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1969–1998).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #4812 among boys in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Boys