Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Killian

84 replies

reckless47 · 03/10/2022 11:11

What do you think about Killian?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
NKFell · 04/10/2022 10:23

I like it, on balance I think I prefer it with a 'C' but in Ireland there are plenty of Killian's kicking about too so no need to get pretentious about the spelling.

Jazzydrops · 04/10/2022 10:13

I really dislike this name. I also see it shortened to ‘Kill’ and I would hate to hear that shortening if it was my child.

Pugsbladder · 04/10/2022 08:56

No. I don't like the sound and it looks all wrong whichever way it's spelled.

Lilacsunflowers · 04/10/2022 08:52

For the Kill Ian people, do you also think Di(e) Anne/a

Killian has the emphasis on KILL

Diana has the emphasis on ANNA

There's nothing daft or rude to point out that many people hear KILL.

giantwaterbottle · 04/10/2022 07:23

OP - there are obviously a lot of Killian/Cillian's in the world who are getting on fine with their names. It's just a name, and not a completely out there unusual name.
People with have associations with all names.
If you like it, use it. It doesn't matter what some random people think if you like it.
It will soon just become your child's name and anyone who meets him will think the same.

ChagSameachDoreen · 04/10/2022 06:59

VatofTea · 03/10/2022 13:02

For the Kill Ian people, do you also think Di(e) Anne/a

I think that is very daft and rude (!)

It's a very popular name in Ireland.

Cill means church, it is similar to Christian.

Yes, I do think "die" with Diane.

And it's not rude; it's just people's opinions.

ChagSameachDoreen · 04/10/2022 06:57

Cillian is better, but the "kill" sound is unpleasant.

ItsOnlyWordsInnit · 04/10/2022 00:32

It’s quite popular in Germany too. I think it comes from a Saint Killian who did something of a grand tour round Europe, leaving his name behind him in a number of countries. The nickname in Germany is ‚Kili‘ (pron. killy).

TabithaTittlemouse · 04/10/2022 00:31

Much prefer it with a C but I really like it

DramaAlpaca · 04/10/2022 00:30

It's a fine Irish name, but please spell it properly - Cillian.

MarshaMelrose · 04/10/2022 00:27

caitlinrose · 03/10/2022 17:50

It's okay as Cillian which is Irish.

Killian just looks wrong to me and I wouldn't want the word "kill" in my name.

Yes, that's it. Ooooo, I hated him. Smug git. Thank you for that. It's been niggling away at me all evening.

Galarunner · 03/10/2022 21:17

A really well known ultra runner and mountaineer is called Kilian Jornet. The name has a good association for me. I think he is originally from the Paye Basque.

Hohofortherobbers · 03/10/2022 20:58

Wibbly1008 · 03/10/2022 17:57

It’s the game show host from the Running Man movie from the 80s….

Hey! There's 2 of us that remember it, great film! Grin

JaneJeffer · 03/10/2022 18:11

Going by this thread I don't think Britain is ready for it.

LaChatte · 03/10/2022 18:09

Quite popular in France, with variations in spelling (Kelyan, Kiliane etc.) and pronunciation (key lianne, Kelly Anne, K lien etc.). To be honest, I've not had a 'nice' Killain (as a teacher).

Bookaholic73 · 03/10/2022 18:03

Iliketeaagain · 03/10/2022 11:15

I like it - like Killian Jones / Captain Hook from once upon a time.. I would think you'd named your baby after that character

Same.

gaymeanshappy · 03/10/2022 18:02

Krakinou · 03/10/2022 17:41

  1. OP asked for reactions to the name. It’s not daft or rude to respond.
  2. There are lots of words in English that begin with “Di”, but I can only think of kill, killer, killed, killing that begin with “kill”.
  3. di-ANNE vs KILL-ian. The negative part is emphasized in the latter.
  4. There are plenty of lovely names in the world that don’t work in one language for whatever reason. It’s like the name Poonam - nothing inherently wrong with it but EVERY single native English speaker will immediately think of poo.
Show quote history

I absolutely love this post, I immediately thought of th actress Poojah Shah 🤣

Wibbly1008 · 03/10/2022 17:57

It’s the game show host from the Running Man movie from the 80s….

caitlinrose · 03/10/2022 17:50

It's okay as Cillian which is Irish.

Killian just looks wrong to me and I wouldn't want the word "kill" in my name.

Krakinou · 03/10/2022 17:41

VatofTea · 03/10/2022 13:02

For the Kill Ian people, do you also think Di(e) Anne/a

I think that is very daft and rude (!)

It's a very popular name in Ireland.

Cill means church, it is similar to Christian.

  1. OP asked for reactions to the name. It’s not daft or rude to respond.
  2. There are lots of words in English that begin with “Di”, but I can only think of kill, killer, killed, killing that begin with “kill”.
  3. di-ANNE vs KILL-ian. The negative part is emphasized in the latter.
  4. There are plenty of lovely names in the world that don’t work in one language for whatever reason. It’s like the name Poonam - nothing inherently wrong with it but EVERY single native English speaker will immediately think of poo.
Lilacsunflowers · 03/10/2022 16:56

Kill Ian here too...

Cillian is much nicer

TrashyPanda · 03/10/2022 14:54

Really dislike it, whichever way it is spelt.

MarshaMelrose · 03/10/2022 13:55

Wasn't that the name of baddie on a sci-fi programme? Battleship Galactica maybe?
The thing with Cillian is that peoole won't know if it's a hard or a soft 'c' and they'll get called Sillian. Like silly 'un.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/10/2022 13:55

VatofTea · 03/10/2022 13:02

For the Kill Ian people, do you also think Di(e) Anne/a

I think that is very daft and rude (!)

It's a very popular name in Ireland.

Cill means church, it is similar to Christian.

@VatofTea It’s not daft, it’s a very obvious point to make

Everyone understands it means something else in Irish and it works in Ireland, the question is does it work in the UK

Hohofortherobbers · 03/10/2022 13:52

It's the baddies name in the running man, so I wouldn't use it, but I'm probably the only person who knows that Grin