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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Of disputed origin: possibly 'strife/war' or 'church' (Old Irish ceallach/ceall), or separately from Latin Caecilianus
- Origin
- Irish (contested)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KIL-ee-an
Cillian is a boy's name from Ireland, pronounced KIL-ee-an, and its meaning is genuinely disputed rather than settled — it's traced to Old Irish roots pointing to 'strife/war' or 'church,' with some scholars linking it instead to the Latin Caecilianus. You may spot it defined elsewhere as meaning 'bright-headed,' but that's an unsupported gloss with no real source behind it. Cillian is a modern pick with a worldly, bold feel.
Meaning & Origin of Cillian
Meaning: Of disputed origin: possibly 'strife/war' or 'church' (Old Irish ceallach/ceall), or separately from Latin Caecilianus.
Origin: Irish (contested).
A common claim: Cillian is frequently glossed on baby-name sites as meaning 'bright-headed.' Actually: Cillian's origin is genuinely disputed: it may come from Old Irish words for 'strife/war' or 'church,' or separately from the Latin name Caecilianus. There's no support for a 'bright-headed' meaning.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Cillian
KIL-ee-anIPA /ˈkɪliən/
Popularity of Cillian
SSA records from 1995 to 2024 show Cillian reaching its highest-ever rank of #463 in 2024, with 668 babies given the name that year — both its most recent and its peak showing in the same year.
Names Like Cillian
These names share Cillian’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Cillian mean?
Of disputed origin: possibly ‘strife/war’ or ‘church’ (Old Irish ceallach/ceall), or separately from Latin Caecilianus. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Cillian?
Cillian is pronounced KIL-ee-an (IPA: /ˈkɪliən/).
Is Cillian a popular name right now?
Cillian is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #463 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1995–2024.)
Make Cillian Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Cillian, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Cillian? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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