Keiran

Keiran (KEE-rin)

Origin: Anglicized version of Ciaran, meaning "dark man".

Syllables: 2

Style: Celtic, Bell Tones, The -ens, Saints

Popularity: 516 (rising, slowly)

Variants: Ciaran

Sisters: Caitlin, Maeve, Alannah, Marin, Ainsley

Brothers: Declan, Kane, Rowan, Kilian, Cormac

* Ciaran is an old name. It runs deep through Irish history, a name of saints and heroes dating back more than 1000 years. In modern Ireland, it's a popular choice to honor tradition. To Americans, though, grand old Ciaran is unfamiliar and frankly unpronounceable. That's where the Anglicized spelling comes in. Kieran is a fresh burst of 21-st century sound with strong Irish underpinnings.

Middle Name Pick: Keiran Daniel

Jonas

Jonas (JOH-nuhs)

Origin: The Greek form of Jonah, which means "dove" in Hebrew.

Syllables: 2

Style: Biblical, Antique Charm

Popularity: 379

Variants: Jonah

Sisters: Ivy, Halle, Naomi, Lucia, Eliza

Brothers: Ezra, Isaac, Tobias, Judah, Silas

* Jonah is the form of this name that you'll hear most today, but the Greek Jonas has historically been the preferred English version. That gives Jonas a double punch: it's less common and has a throwback, pioneer style.

Middle Name Pick: Jonas Mason