The story behind Kilian
A male given name from Irish, variant of Killian.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
German entry
Borrowed from Irish Cillian, originally in honor of an Irish seventh century missionary to Würzburg.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): K IH1 L IY0 AH0 N
Regional pronunciation variants
- German: /ˈkiː.li.an/
- German: /ˈkiːl.jan/
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Kilian ranked #1167 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Kilian
Kathleen
Anglicization of Caitlín, an Irish equivalent of the English Catherine.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Keelin
Borrowed from Irish Caoilfhionn, from caol (“thin, slender”) + fionn (“light, fair”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Keenan
From Irish Cianán, a diminutive of Cian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kevan
A male given name from Irish, variant of Kevin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kevin
Name of a seventh-century Irish saint, from Irish Caoimhghin or Caoimhín, from Old Irish Cóemgen (literally “dear birth/person”). It first became popular outside Ireland in the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kiljan
Borrowed from Irish Cillian, a saint’s name, first used in Iceland by Halldór Kiljan Laxness (1902-1998) after his conversion to Catholicism.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Kilian
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Brian
Borrowed from Irish Brian. Doublet of Brendan. Via English Brian from Irish Brian, ultimately from Breton Brien. From English Brian, from Irish Brian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Brígida
Borrowed from Irish Brigid.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Kilian
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barry
Anglicized form of Irish Bairre, short form of Fionnbharr, from fionn (“white”) + barr (“head”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length