How to pronounce Cillian Murphy's name - people keep saying Peaky Blinders star's name wrong

Cork's very own Cillian Murphy has been lighting up the silver screen for years, and his role in the smash-hit series Peaky Blinders has catapulted him to new heights of global stardom . With the release of Oppenheimer, Murphy's fame has soared even further.

Like other celebs with traditional Irish names - take Saoirse Ronan for example - Cillian's name is often pronounced wrong .

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How to pronounce the name Cillian?

Many fans mistakenly think 'Cillian' should sound like "Sillian". However, it's correctly pronounced as 'Killian' ("Kill-ee-an").

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What does the name Cillian mean?

The name Cillian is believed to have saintly origins, hinting at something sacred. It combines 'cill', meaning church or churchyard in Irish, with 'ian', likely coming from the diminutive suffix 'in', indicating youth or smallness.

According to name experts, it means means "bright-headed" but could also mean "monastery" or "church".

Data from Ireland's Central Statistics Office shows the name Cillian is becoming more popular . Cillian was the ninth most popular name given to baby boys born in Ireland in 2023.

A total of 275 boys born last year in Ireland were given the name. It has been the ninth most popular name for boys since 2021.