UK name, mostly girls
Keran
A Gaelic name meaning "little darkhaired one" or "beautiful smooth hair".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 7 boys.
Keran is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Keran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2407, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 6 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 to 1998. 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.
Keran is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Keran. 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 1999 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keran ranked #2407 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 6 girls were registered as Keran.
- • Keran is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 56.3% of Keran registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2407
1998
Births in 1998
6
Latest year
Peak year
1998
6 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Keran
In England and Wales birth records, Keran has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 43.8% of registrations are for boys and 56.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Keran registered for boys
- Ranked #4,678 in 2010
- 3 boys registered in 2010
- Peak: 2001 (4 births)
Keran registered for girls
- Ranked #2,407 in 1998
- 6 girls registered in 1998
- Peak: 1998 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Keran mean?
The name Keran is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, with roots dating back to ancient Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "ciar," which means "dark" or "black," possibly referring to the color of one's hair or complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keran can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a historical chronicle compiled by medieval Irish monks. The annals mention a "Keran mac Ruaidrí" who lived in the 12th century and was a prominent figure in the kingdom of Tír Eoghain (modern-day County Tyrone, Northern Ireland).
In the realm of religious texts, the name Keran is associated with Saint Keran, a 6th-century Irish monk and missionary who established several monasteries in what is now County Wexford, Ireland. His feast day is celebrated on March 8th in the Catholic Church.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Keran. One such person was Keran Hallett (1926-2017), a British actress known for her performances on stage and in television shows like "Coronation Street" and "The Bill."
Another prominent figure was Keran O'Reilly (1936-2007), an Irish hurler who played for the Kilkenny senior hurling team and won several All-Ireland medals during his career.
In the field of literature, Keran O'Brien (1924-2018) was an American author and playwright who wrote several books, including "The Wig" and "Kites in September."
Moving to the world of sports, Keran Pandya (born 1980) is an English cricketer who played domestic cricket for Lancashire and represented England in the Under-19 World Cup.
Finally, Keran Boyd (born 1990) is a Canadian-American actress known for her roles in television shows like "The Fosters" and "Good Trouble."
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Keran throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Keran over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Keran in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Keran, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 1998, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3101 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Keran
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Keran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keran in the UK right now?
In 1998, Keran was ranked #2407 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Keran most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 6 babies registered as Keran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keran?
A Gaelic name meaning "little darkhaired one" or "beautiful smooth hair".
How many people are called Keran in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Keran across the 2 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.