Killian
Meaning of Killian
Killian is a strong and distinguished name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Cillian. It carries the meaning "church" or "war strife," reflecting its deep historical roots. The name is pronounced as KIL-ee-ən in English and KIL-yən in Irish Gaelic, offering a subtle yet rich variation that highlights its cultural heritage. Killian has seen a steady rise in popularity in the United States over recent decades, climbing from a rank of 4,286 in 1920 to consistently ranking within the top 400 names since 2015. This upward trend underscores its growing appeal among parents seeking a unique yet traditional name for their sons. Often associated with qualities of strength and resilience, Killian also enjoys variations such as Cillian, which maintains its authentic Irish flair.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as KIL-ee-ən (/ˈkɪliən/)
Irish Gaelic
- Pronunced as KIL-yən (/ˈkɪljən/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Killian
| Killian Hayes - Killian Deron Antron Hayes is a French-American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. |
| Killian Donnelly is an Irish tenor known for his performances in musicals like Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Commitments, Memphis, and Kinky Boots. |
| Cillian Damien Murphy, also known as Killian Scott, is an Irish actor who gained fame for his role as Tommy in the RTÉ One series Love/Hate (2010–2014). |
| Killian Young is an Irish sportsperson known for his career in Gaelic football with Renard GAA, South Kerry, and the Kerry senior inter-county team. |
| Killian Mullarney is an Irish ornithologist, bird artist, and bird tour leader known for designing a series of Irish definitive stamps illustrating Irish birds. |
| Killian Doyle is an Irish hurler known for his role as a centre-forward with the Westmeath senior team. |
| Killian Heffernan is an Irish professional darts player known for his participation in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events and reaching the final of the 2018 BDO World Youth Darts Championship. |
| Killian Burke is an Irish hurler known for playing as a centre-back for the London senior team. |
| Killian Timoney is an American politician and educator who currently serves as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 45th district, having assumed office on January 1, 2021. |
| Killian Keane is a retired Irish rugby union player born in Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland in August 1971. |
| Killian Cronin is a former Cork senior team hurler known for his role as a full-back. |
| Killian Sardella is a Belgian professional footballer known for playing as a right back for Anderlecht in the Belgian First Division A. |
| Killian Mottet is a Swiss professional ice hockey player for HC Fribourg-Gottéron and a member of the 2022 Swiss Olympic men's ice hockey team. |
