Ciara

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Ciara

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Ciara is a modern, Latin-based, form of the Old Irish name Ciar, or Ciarnat meaning “Dark” and thus, can be a feminine form of Ciarán, an Irish Gaelic name meaning “Little Dark One.”

History:
The original, Gaelic feminine form of the name was Ciarnat.

Ciara is a modern name, based on the Latin form of the saint’s name and use is inspired by resurgence of interest in the Irish Gaelic language and Irish Gaelic names.

Previously rare, it has lately become quite common, and very popular in Ireland.

Pronunciation: kee-are-ah

Alternates: Ciera, Cierra, Kiara, Kiera, Kierra, Chier.

Masculine: Ciarán.

Famous Bearers:
Religious Figures:
Saint Kiera (Chier) (-680)
Irish virgin saint.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.003 % named Ciara
0.003 % named Kiara
0.003 % named Cierra
0.002 % named Kiera
0.002 % named Ciera

Popularity of Ciara:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1981: N/A
1982: 868th most popular.
1983: 866th most popular.
1984: 709th most popular.
1985: 409th most popular.
1986: 330th most popular.
1987: 313th most popular.
1988: 353rd most popular.
1989: 296th most popular.
1990: 307th most popular.
1991: 276th most popular.
1992: 218th most popular.
1993: 210th most popular.
1994: 213th most popular.
1995: 189th most popular. - Peak!
1996: 212th most popular.
1997: 216th most popular.
1998: 257th most popular.
1999: 259th most popular.
2000: 284th most popular.
2001: 314th most popular.
2002: 335th most popular.
2003: 383rd most popular.
2004: 330th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 2nd most popular.
1999: 4th most popular.
2000: 3rd most popular.
2001: 5th most popular.
2002: 3rd most popular.
2003: 4th most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Freedman, 1995
The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)
Central Statistics Office (www.cso.ie/) - for Irish stats.