Killian Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Killian is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Killian?
Killian is spelled K-I-L-L-I-A-N. The name has 7 letters.
Killian at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Killian may derive from the Old Irish name “Cillín,” meaning “little church.”
- Origin
- The name Killian is commonly associated with Irish origins, possibly deriving from the Old Irish word “cill,” meaning “church.”
- Pronunciation
- KIL-ee-an · 3 syllables
Killian Popularity in 2025
Rank#7,133
Recorded Births15
Rank#417
Recorded Births770
- Girls usage rose 1,310 places to #7,133 and recorded 3 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 47 places to #417 and recorded 115 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Killian Mean?
Killian may derive from the Old Irish name “Cillín,” meaning “little church.”
Origin: The name Killian is commonly associated with Irish origins, possibly deriving from the Old Irish word “cill,” meaning “church.”
How Do You Pronounce Killian?
PronunciationKIL-ee-an
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Killian?
- History
- Killian has historical usage as an Irish personal name and has been documented in various forms in Irish historical and ecclesiastical sources.
Killian Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 15 | #7,133 |
| 2025 | Boys | 770 | #417 |
| 2024 | Girls | 12 | #8,443 |
| 2024 | Boys | 885 | #370 |
| 2023 | Girls | 12 | #8,486 |
| 2023 | Boys | 884 | #367 |
| 2022 | Girls | 20 | #5,984 |
| 2022 | Boys | 903 | #364 |
| 2021 | Girls | 21 | #5,748 |
| 2021 | Boys | 939 | #347 |
| 2020 | Girls | 13 | #7,969 |
| 2020 | Boys | 899 | #352 |
| 2019 | Girls | 16 | #7,025 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,089 | #311 |
| 2018 | Girls | 21 | #5,785 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,229 | #287 |
| 2017 | Girls | 22 | #5,661 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,506 | #248 |
| 2016 | Girls | 19 | #6,401 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,382 | #264 |
| 2015 | Girls | 25 | #5,288 |
| 2015 | Boys | 976 | #349 |
| 2014 | Girls | 16 | #7,302 |
| 2014 | Boys | 545 | #511 |
When Was Killian Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2017 · Boys
1,506 recorded births
National rank #248
2016 · Boys
1,382 recorded births
National rank #264
2018 · Boys
1,229 recorded births
National rank #287
2019 · Boys
1,089 recorded births
National rank #311
Where Killian Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #102 | 5 |
| SD | #221 | 6 |
| WV | #254 | 7 |
| OK | #282 | 17 |
| KY | #295 | 18 |
| OR | #295 | 14 |
| MA | #298 | 19 |
| NM | #311 | 6 |