The story behind Killian
An anglicized spelling of Irish Cillian.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): K IH1 L Y AH0 N
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
Killian ranked #7333 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Killian
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
Kilian
A male given name from Irish, variant of Killian. Borrowed from Irish Cillian, originally in honor of an Irish seventh century missionary to Würzburg.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Killian
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
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
Sibling Names for Killian
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