Tiernan
Say it: TEER-nan
BoyIrishMeans little lord7 letters2 syllables
#115
in Ireland (2025)
#113 with spellings combined
51
babies in 2025
#84
best rank (2022)
1,505
babies since 1964
Up 48
10-year rank change
Tiernan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | #113 |
| 2024 | 54 | #107 |
| 2023 | 49 | #118 |
| 2022 | 76 | #84 |
| 2021 | 68 | #94 |
| 2020 | 58 | #106 |
| 2019 | 61 | #114 |
| 2018 | 45 | #136 |
| 2017 | 49 | #127 |
| 2016 | 47 | #140 |
| 2015 | 39 | #161 |
| 2014 | 41 | #161 |
| 2013 | 57 | #119 |
| 2012 | 66 | #109 |
| 2011 | 57 | #127 |
| 2010 | 59 | #128 |
| 2009 | 52 | #136 |
| 2008 | 58 | #130 |
| 2007 | 49 | #130 |
| 2006 | 45 | #126 |
| 2005 | 50 | #111 |
| 2004 | 34 | #138 |
| 2003 | 42 | #115 |
| 2002 | 28 | #142 |
| 2001 | 24 | #148 |
| 2000 | 25 | #146 |
| 1999 | 27 | #132 |
| 1998 | 16 | #162 |
| 1997 | 19 | #162 |
| 1996 | 10 | #223 |
| 1995 | 13 | #191 |
| 1994 | 6 | #247 |
| 1993 | 9 | #213 |
| 1992 | 7 | #238 |
| 1991 | 13 | #179 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 5 | #253 |
| 1988 | 10 | #196 |
| 1986 | 9 | #210 |
| 1984 | 6 | #234 |
| 1983 | 6 | #237 |
| 1982 | 3 | #330 |
| 1981 | 4 | #292 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | 7 | #245 |
| 1978 | 4 | #283 |
| 1977 | 5 | #273 |
| 1976 | 4 | #288 |
| 1975 | 4 | #290 |
| 1973 | 6 | #254 |
| 1972 | 5 | #254 |
| 1971 | 6 | #242 |
| 1966 | 3 | #256 |
| 1965 | 4 | #222 |
| 1964 | 3 | #232 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Tiernan mean?
Little lord
English form of Irish Tiarnán, from tiarna (lord) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
TEERnan
The Irish spelling Tiarnán is said TEER-nawn.
The story of Tiernan
Tiernan is the English spelling of the Irish Tiarnán. It comes from tiarna, “lord”, with the small ending -án, so it is usually explained as “little lord”. It is also an Irish surname.
The best-known bearer in Irish history is Tigernán Ua Ruairc, king of Breifne in the twelfth century. In 1152 his wife Derbforgaill was carried off by Diarmait Mac Murchada, king of Leinster. In 1166 Ua Ruairc helped drive Mac Murchada out of Leinster, and Mac Murchada went abroad to look for help. The Normans who came with that help began the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.
Tiernan was already in use when the CSO data begins in 1964, but only a few boys a year were given it until the 1990s. Its best year was 2022, with 76 boys and number 84. The CSO counts the fada spelling Tiernán separately, and it is still rare. In Northern Ireland the name did best in 2008, when it was 52nd.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Tiernan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Tiernan
- Wikipedia: Tigernán Ua Ruairc
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Tiernan | 48 | 1,496 |
| Tiernán | 3 | 9 |
In Northern Ireland
#99 in 2025 with 24 babies. Best rank #52 (2008); 1,003 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.