Kilian
BoyIrish · German /ˈkiː.li.aːn/; Spanish /ˈki.ljan/
Kilian links Irish roots with a German saint tradition. Its clear opening and flowing ending balance firmness with an approachable sound.
Origin
Irish
Pronunciation
German /ˈkiː.li.aːn/; Spanish /ˈki.ljan/
Probably a church-related diminutive; the exact derivation is uncertain.
Kilian is a masculine name with Irish roots, established in German as a form of Cillian. The older name probably combines a word for “church” with a diminutive ending, often rendered “little church”. A battle-related explanation also exists, so “warrior” is not a certain meaning. Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary associated with Würzburg, gives the name a concrete link to German medieval tradition. Its Irish origin and German history belong to different stages of the same story. Kilian has one l, unlike Killian; Cillian is another related spelling. If you favour the German form, /ˈkiː.li.aːn/ has three syllables and starts roughly KEE. Spanish /ˈki.ljan/ is more compact. The firm k followed by the lighter l and n can make the name feel friendly while retaining a distinct opening.
Etymology: An established German form of Irish Cillian, with other European uses.
Spelling table
Code
-.- .. .-.. .. .- -.
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Braille
⠠⠅⠊⠇⠊⠁⠝
Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Boys
Rank1,167
Girls
RankNot reported
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
Irish
Origin
German