Taran

Taran is a Welsh masculine name meaning "thunder", derived from the old Celtic root *toranos. The name appears briefly in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, a collection of medieval Welsh tales. It is cognate to the Gaulish god Taranis, whose name also stems from the same root. Taranis was identified with the Roman god Jupiter, and is a counterpart to the Norse god Thor, whose name (from Old Norse Þórr) also means "thunder" and derives from Proto-Germanic *Þunraz.

Historical Notable Bearers

Taran was borne by a 7th-century Pictish king, Taran mac Ainftech, who ruled the Picts for a brief period. Little is known of his reign, but his name reflects the ancient Celtic tradition of invoking thunder-related names for rulers, possibly to associate them with divine power.

Modern Notable Bearers

In contemporary times, Taran is used both as a given name and a surname. Notable individuals with the given name include Taran Killam (born 1982), an American comic actor known for his work on Saturday Night Live; Taran Noah Smith (born 1984), former child actor from the sitcom Home Improvement; Taran Adarsh (born 1965), an Indian film critic; Taran Alvelo (born 1996), an American softball player; and Taran Armstrong (born 2002), an Australian professional basketball player. The surname Taran is found in Eastern Europe (Romanian Țăran meaning "peasant") and Russia; notable bearers include Ukrainian violinist Alla Taran (1941–2017), Russian convict Alexander Taran (born 1951), and Uzbekistani footballer Igor Taran (born 1986).

Key Facts

• Meaning: "thunder" in Welsh
• Origin: Proto-Celtic *toranos
• Type: Given name and surname
• Usage: Welsh (given name); also Eastern European (surname)
• Cognate names: Taranis, Thor