How to say it
CIL · li · an
/ˈkɪl.i.ən/
Masculine
Cillian
Little church; strife
What it means
An Irish name often read as 'little church' or tied to a root for 'strife.'
Cillian is an Irish name usually traced to cill, 'church' or 'monk's cell,' so 'little church,' though some link it to a word for 'strife.' Saint Cillian was a 7th-century Irish missionary. The C-spelling is the Irish original of Killian, made famous by actor Cillian Murphy. Said KIL-ee-un.
Popularity over time
peaked at #463 in 2024, currently #507 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
The Irish spelling of Killian.
- Pop culture
Actor Cillian Murphy.
Spelling variants
- Killian
- Cillín
- Kilian
Names with the same feeling
See Cillian from another angle
By style