Meaning & History
Ciar is a given name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish word ciar meaning "black" or "dark." In Irish mythology, Ciar was a son of Fergus mac Róich and Medb, the legendary queen of Connacht. Ciar is said to be the ancestor of the Ciarraige tribe, after whom County Kerry (from Ciarraige) is named.
As a feminine name, Ciar was borne by an Irish nun (also known as Ciara) who founded a monastery in Tipperary in the 7th century. The name is gender-neutral today, though historically more common for males. The diminutive Ciarán ("little dark one") is more widely used and has corresponding versions in other cultures, such as Kyara in Portuguese and Keira, Kiara, and Kira in English. These anglicized forms have become popular in English-speaking countries, sometimes as variants of Ciara.
- Meaning: "black" or "dark"
- Origin: Irish, Old Irish
- Type: Gender-neutral given name (historically male, also feminine)
- Usage Regions: Ireland, Irish diaspora
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Ciarán