How to say it
KIL · i · an
ˈkɪl.i.ən
Masculine
Killian
Little church, or strife
What it means
The anglicized Irish Cillian, from cill ('church') or a root meaning 'strife.'
Killian is the anglicized form of the Irish Cillian, usually traced to cill, 'church,' with an alternate root suggesting 'strife.' St. Killian was a 7th-century Irish missionary martyred in Bavaria, where he is still honored. It has a warm, rolling Irish sound and a beery namesake in Killian's Irish Red. The Cillian spelling, as in actor Cillian Murphy, is the Irish original.
How to spell Killian
The standard spelling is Killian. Common variants include Cillian, Killion, Kilian, but Killian is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #248 in 2017, currently #418 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Killian and Cillian are the same name; Cillian Murphy says it KILL-ee-an.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- St. Killian 7th-century Irish missionary, patron of Würzburg
Spelling variants
- Cillian
- Killion
- Kilian
Names with the same feeling
See Killian from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Killian mean?
- The anglicized Irish Cillian, from cill ('church') or a root meaning 'strife.'
- What does Killian mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Killian means "Little church, or strife." Killian is the anglicized form of the Irish Cillian, usually traced to cill, 'church,' with an alternate root suggesting 'strife.' St. Killian was a 7th-century Irish missionary martyred in Bavaria, where he is still honored. It has a warm, rolling Irish sound and a beery namesake in Killian's Irish Red. The Cillian spelling, as in actor Cillian Murphy, is the Irish original.
- How do you pronounce Killian?
- Killian is pronounced ˈkɪl.i.ən. Say it as KIL-i-an, with the stress on the "kil" syllable.
- How do you spell Killian?
- The standard spelling is Killian. Common spelling variants include Cillian, Killion, Kilian.
- Is Killian a boy or girl name?
- Killian is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Killian?
- Killian ranked #418 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.