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