Find out how popular the first name Cillian has been for the last 29 years (from 1995 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cillian by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Cillian is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 476 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cillian.

The history of the first name Cillian

The name Cillian is an Irish Gaelic name that originated in ancient Ireland. It is derived from the Old Irish word "cill," which means "church" or "monastery." The name was likely given to children who were born or raised in the vicinity of a church or monastic settlement.

The earliest recorded use of the name Cillian dates back to the 6th century AD, when it was borne by several Irish saints and scholars. One of the most notable figures was Saint Cillian, a Irish missionary who traveled to France in the late 6th century to spread Christianity. He is venerated as the patron saint of several towns and villages in Brittany.

In the medieval period, the name Cillian was popular among the Irish nobility and clergy. It was often associated with religious devotion and scholarly pursuits. Several Irish kings and princes bore the name, including Cillian mac Congail, a 7th-century King of Bregia, and Cillian mac Scandail, a 9th-century King of Munster.

The name also appears in some of the oldest surviving Irish literary works, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters. These historical chronicles record the lives and deeds of notable individuals bearing the name Cillian.

In more recent times, several notable figures have carried the name Cillian. These include Cillian Murphy (born 1976), an Irish actor known for his roles in films such as "28 Days Later" and "Inception," and Cillian O'Connor (born 1992), an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Mayo.

Other notable individuals named Cillian throughout history include Cillian de Nobilibus (c. 1345-1368), an Italian Franciscan friar and writer; Cillian of Derry (d. 682), an Irish saint and Bishop of Derry; and Cillian of Inishbofin (d. 670), an Irish saint and founder of a monastery on Inishbofin Island.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cillian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cillian, please contact us.

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