Kilian
Boy name · #1167 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
In 2025, 177 baby boys were named Kilian, placing it at #1167 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1334, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,169 boys born in 2025 was named Kilian.
Babies named Kilian per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 55-year story
Kilian first appears in the Social Security records in 1970, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 212 babies and a rank of #1031. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kilian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kilian in class?
Kilian scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Kilian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kilian is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kilians were CA (27), TX (16), NY (12), NJ (9), FL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kilian
Statistically, parents drawn to Kilian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bastian, Zavian, Kaspian, Avian, and Gian.
BastianZavianKaspianAvianGianKananKylianKallan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kilian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 177 | #1166 |
| 2024 | 209 | #1053 |
| 2023 | 212 | #1031 |
| 2022 | 161 | #1220 |
| 2021 | 168 | #1170 |
| 2020 | 154 | #1222 |
| 2019 | 132 | #1354 |
| 2018 | 145 | #1261 |
| 2017 | 162 | #1159 |
| 2016 | 161 | #1180 |
| 2015 | 132 | #1334 |
| 2014 | 91 | #1679 |
| 2013 | 41 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 59 | #2209 |
| 2011 | 40 | #2904 |
| 2010 | 43 | #2787 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2623 |
| 2008 | 44 | #2753 |
| 2007 | 36 | #3135 |
| 2006 | 35 | #3083 |
| 2005 | 26 | #3615 |
| 2004 | 32 | #3074 |
| 2003 | 21 | #3976 |
| 2002 | 20 | #4044 |
| 2001 | 32 | #2864 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kilian a popular boy name?
Kilian ranked #1167 among boys in 2025 with 177 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1334.
When was the name Kilian most popular?
Kilian peaked in 2023, when 212 American boys received the name (ranked #1031 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Kilian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,169 newborn American boys was named Kilian. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.