Pronunciation
Kill-ee-an
Meaning
Often interpreted as little church; also traditionally linked to Ceallach
Alternate spellings
Killian
Fun fact
There was a Saint Cillian in the seventh century, so this name goes back a long way. You'll also see Killian, an anglicised spelling. Cillian Murphy is probably one of the first people a lot of visitors will think of when they hear it.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Cillian, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 271 | #9 |
| 2024 | 352 | #4 |
| 2023 | 275 | #9 |
| 2022 | 316 | #9 |
| 2021 | 322 | #9 |
| 2020 | 302 | #11 |
| 2019 | 289 | #17 |
| 2018 | 289 | #17 |
| 2017 | 302 | #16 |
| 2016 | 298 | #22 |
| 2015 | 299 | #22 |
| 2014 | 350 | #20 |
| 2013 | 322 | #23 |
| 2012 | 341 | #23 |
| 2011 | 360 | #22 |
| 2010 | 351 | #21 |
| 2009 | 346 | #21 |
| 2008 | 350 | #23 |
| 2007 | 377 | #22 |
| 2006 | 300 | #28 |
| 2005 | 167 | #45 |
| 2004 | 176 | #40 |
| 2003 | 116 | #60 |
| 2002 | 99 | #66 |
| 2001 | 114 | #58 |
| 2000 | 111 | #59 |
| 1999 | 98 | #61 |
| 1998 | 92 | #60 |
| 1997 | 101 | #72 |
| 1996 | 102 | #70 |
| 1995 | 61 | #89 |
| 1994 | 60 | #90 |
| 1993 | 66 | #90 |
| 1992 | 71 | #84 |
| 1991 | 54 | #100 |
| 1990 | 52 | #100 |
| 1989 | 44 | #107 |
| 1988 | 37 | #120 |
| 1987 | 42 | #110 |
| 1986 | 33 | #125 |
| 1985 | 28 | #135 |
| 1984 | 22 | #148 |
| 1983 | 31 | #132 |
| 1982 | 39 | #124 |
| 1981 | 19 | #165 |
| 1980 | 19 | #166 |
| 1979 | 16 | #172 |
| 1978 | 12 | #188 |
| 1977 | 9 | #220 |
| 1976 | 11 | #203 |
| 1975 | 6 | #251 |
| 1974 | 11 | #203 |
| 1973 | 4 | #290 |
| 1972 | 9 | #207 |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.