Tiernan
Tiernan is an Irish surname. Tiernan is also an anglicisation of Tiarnán, a given name derived from the Irish word tiarna "lord" + -án.
- Irish
Meaning & Origin of Tiernan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tiernan is an Irish surname. Tiernan is also an anglicisation of Tiarnán, a given name derived from the Irish word tiarna "lord" + -án.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
The Story of Tiernan
As a girl name
Tiernan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1989, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2002, when 19 Tiernans were born — ranking #5,897 that year. As of 2026, Tiernan ranks #15,678 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 195 Tiernans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Tiernan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1985, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 86 Tiernans were born — ranking #1,728 that year. As of 2026, Tiernan ranks #3,600 for boys with 32 births, rising sharply (+25% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Tiernans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Tiernan
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Tiernan. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Tiarnach
- Tiarnán
- Tierney
Names that sound like Tiernan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tiernan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tiernan
What does the name Tiernan mean?
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How popular is Tiernan in 2026?
When was Tiernan most popular?
In which U.S. states is Tiernan most popular?
Is Tiernan a unisex name?
What names go well with Tiernan?
What are nicknames or variants of Tiernan?
About the name Tiernan
Tiernan is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1985 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Tiernan's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #1,728. Use the chart and map above to compare Tiernan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "T" →
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- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.