Killian
How to say it: KIL-ee-un · /ˈkɪliən/
From Irish 'Cillian', possibly from 'ceall' meaning 'church' or a monastic cell; borne by several Irish saints.
Killian was the 265th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 770 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 25% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #244 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #265 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 770 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,321 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +25% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #244 |
| In France, 2025 | #258 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Killian keeps climbing and the 2020s mark its strongest showing yet. Still at its peak, it looks set to keep rising.
What goes with it
Three rolling syllables mix soft sounds with a crisp edge, giving a strong impression. Declan and Finnian share its style for a brother.
Nicknames
- Kill
- Killy
- Ian
Honouring a Killian in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Killian is about 1 in 97.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish.
In France: #258 for boys in 2025.
Ireland: #144.
Famous people named Killian
- Killian Hayes (born 2001)French-American basketball player
- Killian Scott (born 1985)Irish actor
- Killian Overmeire (born 1985)Belgian footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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