Tiernan or Cillian?

[lovebeingmuma]

Scared Cillian is too common. Thoughts on Tiernan ?

I’ve only seen it as a surname but I’m not Irish. Is it more well known as a first name there?

It’s become more popular over the last 30 years or so. Highest ranking was at no.73 in the Irish boy name charts in 2022.

I've only ever known 2 Cillians, its a lovely name.

Tiernan only known as a surname.

I like Tynan too..

I know several of both. I like both names, I think they’re lovely. I’m Irish but am living abroad now. Cillian (or rather, Kilian) is a popular name on the continent too.

Also it’s funny, I’ve not come across Tiernan as a surname in real life (only know of Tommy Tiernan), I pretty much exclusively know it as a first name.

Tiernan

Tiernan is a beautiful name, I’d consider Cillian a bit dated.

I know both and love both. Tiernan was definitely used as a forename in the 70s/80s I’ve heard of a few of them.

Surnames can be quite localised by area, more so in the past, but even still. I’ve put a link for maps for Tiernan from 1901 and 1911. It’ll be a bit different now, but possibly you live in a part of the country where the surname is less well represented.

https://www.barrygriffin.com/surname-maps/irish/tiernan/

It’s usually Tiarnan. Not Tiernan.

(Or Tiarnán. Which I like.)

Both nice names.

No, I just looked at the CSO records and though both spellings are used, Tiernan (like the surname) is used more often, even though it’s Tiarnán in Irish all right .

I do think the name originally comes from Tiarna as in Jesus/Our Lord.

I’m not so sure. Tiarna is also just a regular lord.
Teach na dTiarnaí is the British House of Lords, for example.

I don’t think Irish people would have been bold enough to call their children after Jesus, though I’m not certain. It’s not the tradition here as it is elsewhere though.

This. Both are in usage but Tiernan is somewhat of an anglicised version. I prefer Cillian personally but they're both fine.

Love Cillian, and I don't know any :)

I like both. I think I'd choose Tiernan, but I can see it taking off in popularity.

Cillian would be a solid choice.

I love Tiernan