What Does the Name Killian Mean?
Killian is a boy's name of Irish (Anglicized Gaelic) origin meaning “little church; or little war/strife.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Killian |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Irish (Anglicized Gaelic) |
| Meaning | little church; or little war/strife |
| Variants | Cillian, Kilian, Killien, Kylian |
| Popularity | A rising US boys' name in the Top 300-400; boosted internationally by actor Cillian Murphy. |
The meaning and origin of Killian
The name Killian means “little church; or little war/strife” and has Irish (Anglicized Gaelic) origins. An Anglicized form of the Irish Cillian, most likely from cill ('church') with an affectionate diminutive, hence 'little church'; alternatively linked to ceallach ('strife'). Borne by the 7th-century Irish missionary Saint Kilian.
Variants and related names
Killian is related to several other names you may recognize: Cillian, Kilian, Killien, Kylian. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Killian?
A rising US boys' name in the Top 300-400; boosted internationally by actor Cillian Murphy.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Killian below.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Killian mean?+
The name Killian means “little church; or little war/strife” and is of Irish (Anglicized Gaelic) origin.
What is the origin of the name Killian?+
Killian originates from Irish (Anglicized Gaelic).
Is Killian a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Killian has trended in the US over time.
Killian by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press