Bernard vs Cillian
Bernard and Cilliancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bernard was ranked #339 and Cillian #2 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bernard was ranked #509 and Cillian #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bernard was ranked #613 and Cillian #177 among boys in England and Wales.
Bernard and Cillian over time
Bernard and Cillian appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Cillian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bernard in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bernard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Cillian in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Cillian moved ahead of Bernard in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #98 and #100 the year before became #129 and #84.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bernard and Cillian changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #339 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Bernard and Cillian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #509 and #9.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bernard #613 in 2024, Cillian #177 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1970–2025
Bernard held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Cillian in 35.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #47 in 1970, Cillian #4 in 2024.
The order changed in 1992: Cillian moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #98 and #100; by 1992 that had become #129 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bernard #509, Cillian #9.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bernard held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Cillian in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #613 in 2024, Cillian #177 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Cillian moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #1016 and #1084; by 2007 that had become #1306 and #782.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bernard #613, Cillian #177.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2024
Bernard held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Cillian in 17.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #163 in 1998, Cillian #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bernard #339, Cillian #2.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Bernard | Cillian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Probably from Old Irish 'cell' (church) combined with a diminutive suffix. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #277 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #9 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cillian has a recorded origin (Irish); Bernard does not have one recorded yet.
- Bernard and Cillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Cillian; Bernard doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bernard
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #277 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Cillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys