Cillian
Cillian is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Little church or bright-headed.
Origin and history
Cillian is a traditional Irish name derived from the Gaelic word 'cill', meaning church or monastery, combined with a diminutive suffix. Historically associated with early Irish saints, the name has seen a major rise in U.S. popularity in recent years, largely spurred by the success of Irish actor Cillian Murphy.
Popularity in the United States
4,084 babies in the United States have been named Cillian since 1880. It ranks #1966 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #604.
States where it is most popular
- NY (12.5 %)
- CA (12.3 %)
- TX (6.8 %)
- MA (6.8 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 10 |
| 2000-2010 | 208 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,204 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,662 |
Famous people named Cillian
- Cillian Murphy: Actor
Fun facts
- While Killian was historically more common in the U.S., the traditional Irish spelling Cillian has surged rapidly in recent years.
- Saint Cillian was an Irish missionary bishop who was martyred in Würzburg, Germany, in the late 7th century.