UK boy's name
Cairon
A masculine given name of modern English origin meaning "dark and pious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cairon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cairon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 42 births.
This profile covers 151 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2000 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 10% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 150 living people in the UK are called Cairon. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cairon ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 42 boys were registered as Cairon.
- • About 150 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cairon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2009
42 births
Estimated living
150
2026
Meaning
What does Cairon mean?
The name Cairon originates from the ancient Celtic language spoken in the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe over 2,000 years ago. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic root "car" meaning "to love" or "beloved", combined with the suffix "-on" which was a common masculine ending. The name can be translated to mean "the beloved one" or "dear friend".
Records show that Cairon was a relatively common name among the ancient Celtic tribes such as the Britons, Picts, and Gaels. It appeared in early Welsh poetry and folklore, often referring to legendary heroes or warriors. One notable example is the character Cairon ap Cenydd, a knight featured in the medieval Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion.
In the 5th century AD, a Briton chieftain named Cairon is mentioned in the writings of the monk Gildas as leading a rebellion against the invading Anglo-Saxons. This historical figure may have contributed to the name's continued use among the Welsh and Cornish people during the early medieval period.
During the Middle Ages, the name Cairon was also found in Ireland, where it was rendered as Cáerán or Ciarán. St. Ciarán of Saigir (516-609) was an influential Irish monk and one of the earliest Christian missionaries to have this name. His feast day is celebrated on March 5th in the Catholic Church.
Another notable figure was Cairon Bor, a 9th century Welsh prince and heir to the kingdom of Dyfed. He is remembered for his conflicts with the Vikings and his attempts to resist the growing influence of the Anglo-Saxons in Wales.
In the 12th century, a French knight named Cairon de Beaumont accompanied Richard the Lionheart on the Third Crusade. He was praised for his bravery and skill in battle, and his exploits were recorded in various chronicles of the time.
While the name Cairon fell out of widespread use after the medieval period, it continued to appear occasionally throughout history. For example, Cairon O'Doherty (1587-1608) was an Irish chieftain and rebel who led an uprising against English rule in Ulster.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cairon over time
The chart below shows babies named Cairon registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cairon, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 42 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cairon by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cairon was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4055 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #2624 | 85 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2441 | 54 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Cairon
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cairon: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cairon in the UK right now?
In 2023, Cairon was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Cairon most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 42 babies registered as Cairon in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cairon?
A masculine given name of modern English origin meaning "dark and pious".
How many people are called Cairon in the UK?
A total of 151 babies have been registered as Cairon across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.