Origin, Meaning, And History Of Cillian
The name Cillian comes from classic Irish origin and means ‘church’ or ‘small cells.’ The name obtains its meaning from the Gaelic word ‘ceall,’ which means a church or monastery. It was a common practice for monks in early Ireland to live in the small cells known as ‘ceall’ and it associated the name with monks. Cillian harbors another meaning from the Celtic word ‘ceallach’, which means ‘little warrior’ or ‘bright-headed.’
The name comes with prosperous history as it is also associated with Saint Cillian, who was an Irish missionary in the 7th century and an apostle of Franconia, which was later combined with Germany. Saint Cillian was martyred with his companions for their missionary work. He was known for his strong belief, kindness, and intelligence and is revered as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Although Cillian is an Irish name, it is also popular among people from different cultures and languages, and it can be seen from the variants used by people from different cultural backgrounds. The variants usually spell and sound similar, with the essence of the same unique and meaningful qualities. Germans adopted it from the Irish and referred to it as Kilian, while Killian is more often used by the English speaking population, Kilien in France, Ciliano in Italy, Ciljan in Croatia, and Kilijan is preferred in Poland.
The name is gaining widespread popularity in Ireland and other parts of the world in modern times. Often, the popularity of the name is influenced by fictional characters from a variety of genres like comics, fiction, romance, and fantasy. Some of the fictional references areCillian Bloodstonefrom the Dragonlance book series written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman,Cillian O’Connorfrom Nora Roberts novel Irish Thoroughbred andCillian Darcyfrom Joss Stirling’s novel Finding Sky.
How To Pronounce Cillian?
Famous People With The Name Cillian
- Cillian BuckleyAn Irish hurler who plays for Kilkenny Senior Championship
- Cillian WillisA professional rugby union footballer employed by Leinster Rugby
- Cillian VallelyA traditional Irish musician who plays uilleann pipes and low whistle
- Cillian SheridanAn Irish professional footballer who plays for Scottish Championship side Dundee
- Cillian MurphyAn Irish actor, originally singer, guitarist and lyricist for the rock band and recently seen in Peaky Blinders
- Cillian MorrisonAn Irish Gaelic footballer who played for St. Eunan’s and Donegal country team
Cillian On The Popularity Chart
Cillian is a name with traditional, cultural meaning and modern sound. It has been growing on the popularity and ranking charts as per the Social security Administration’s data.
Popularity Over Time
Cillian has been growing in the population for centuries and it can be seen in the graph that it has shown exponential growth since 1995, from 5 babies per million to 340 in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Cillian is improving in rank over time, just like popularity, and can be seen on the 18278th rank in 2021, which was at 27440th rank in 2001.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Cillian
Take a look for more options that sound as stylish and sweet as Cillian.
Popular Sibling Names For Cillian
Other Popular Names Beginning With C
Names With Similar Meaning As Cillian
Here are some more names with the same meaning as Cillian which may interest you.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Cillian
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Cillian?
The name Cillian means ‘church.’
2. What is the origin of the name Cillian?
Cillian has Gaelic and Irish origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Cillian?
Cillian is pronounced as cil-lee-an.
4. Is Cillian a popular name in Ireland?
Yes. Cillian is a popular or commonly used name in Ireland. It holds 9th rank in this country.
5. Which middle names go well with Cillian?
Cillian means ‘church,’ ‘bright-headed,’ or ‘little warrior.’ So you can explore middle names that relate to these meanings. Some options are Finn (fair), Orion (rising in the sky), Maverick (independent), and Blaze (flame).
6. What are the nicknames for the name “Cillian?”
Cil, Cilz, Cilly, Cill, and Cilman are some good nicknames for Cillian. You may modify these names or add any term of affection after them.
7. Is Cillian a traditional Irish name?
Cillian is a traditional and much-loved Irish name. It is said to come from Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary to Germany in the 7th century. Cillian was spelled Ó Cillín in Irish originally. Over time, it was anglicized into Killeen as well as Killian.
