What does Cillian mean?
Cillian is linked to “bright-headed” and to cill, “church” or “monastery.”
What does Kian mean?
Kian comes from the Irish Cian, “ancient” or “enduring.”
Cillian vs Kian
Which is more popular?
Kian is more popular than Cillian today: about 797 US babies were given the name Kian in 2025, compared with 595 named Cillian.
| Cillian | Kian | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright-headed; church | Ancient, enduring |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KIL-ee-un | KEE-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1995 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 2024 (668) | 2025 (797) |
| In 2025 | 595 | 797 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cillian
Kian
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cillian | Kian |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,662 | 4,304 |
| 2010s | 1,204 | 5,452 |
| 2000s | 208 | 2,787 |
| 1990s | 10 | 698 |
| 1980s | 0 | 138 |
| 1970s | 0 | 78 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cillian or Kian more popular?
Kian is more popular than Cillian today: about 797 US babies were given the name Kian in 2025, compared with 595 named Cillian.
What is the difference between Cillian and Kian?
Cillian means Bright-headed; church (Irish origin), while Kian means Ancient, enduring (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Cillian or Kian?
In US records, Cillian first appears in 1995 and Kian in 1970, so Kian has the longer recorded history.