Names That Mean Church

Cillian is one of the native Irish names that, along with Aiden and Declan, is becoming an unlikely favorite in contemporary America. The Killian spelling has been more popular in the US, but Cillian's star is rising, perhaps thanks to Irish actor Cillian Murphy, star of Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders.

Dean may sound to some like a retro surfer boy name, but it is once again climbing up the popularity chart in the USA. For decades it was associated with Dean (born Dino) Martin; more recent representatives include Dean Cain, Dean McDermott and Dean Koontz -- not to mention Jared Padalecki's dreamy Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls.

Killian – aka Cillian – is a spirited yet resonant Gaelic name that was borne by several Irish saints and could make a distinctive replacement for the dated Kelly. Kylian is another spelling that's gaining traction, thanks to French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Possible downsides: an unsavory first syllable and a connection to the trendy brew.

The Kylian spelling of this popular Irish name was introduced to the lexicon by French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Kylian entered the US Top 1000 a few years ago and is trending upwards.

Unisex name around for several decades for boys and now ripe for girls.

Far more friendly and open than similar one-syllable names like Kent, Kurt, and Karl, it's been associated for more than half a century with actor Kirk Douglas, whose birth name was Issur Danielovitch Demsky.

Attractive British place-name with a sense of humor. Fun fact: John Wayne played five characters with the first or second name of Kirby.

This German spelling of the classic Irish Cillian is heard throughout Europe — it's a popular choice in France as well.

Yes, another Irish surname, turned boys' name, turned unisex name. But we think this one has a bit more going for it than Logan or Mason, given its similarity in sound to very traditional feminine names Gillian and Lillian.

Like many passé boys' names, this one sounds fresh again for girls.

Too close to baloney.

Distinguished though it is, it will never shake its portly cigar-smoking image.

One of the most usable of the fashionable O'Names.

An old English surname denoting either a servant of one of the Knights Templar, or a person living near or serving at a church.

An old English surname denoting either a servant of one of the Knights Templar, or a person living near or serving at a church.