Namewise

Carlo vs Cillian

Carlo 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Carlo was ranked #582 and Cillian #4 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2007, Carlo was ranked #357 and Cillian #79 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Carlo was ranked #432 and Cillian #83 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Carlo was ranked #1282 and Cillian #177 among boys in England and Wales.

Carlo and Cillian over time

Carlo and Cillian appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Cillian held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Carlo in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Carlo reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Carlo fell — from #784 and #1104 in 1996 to #1282 and #177 in 2024.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Carlo held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Cillian in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Carlo #686 in 2001, Cillian #177 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2009: Cillian moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #916 and #987; by 2009 that had become #1099 and #760.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Carlo #1282, Cillian #177.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Carlo, Cillian
FieldCarloCillian
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedProbably from Old Irish 'cell' (church) combined with a diminutive suffix.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationScotland · Boys #432 (2024)Republic of Ireland · Boys #9 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Cillian has a recorded origin (Irish); Carlo does not have one recorded yet.
  • Carlo and Cillian both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Cillian; Carlo doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Carlo

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #320 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2003–2007

    Highest recorded position: #299 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 2003–2007).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1282 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys

Cillian

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys