Cillian vs Marcus
Cillian and Marcuscompared 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, Cillian was ranked #2 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cillian was ranked #9 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cillian was ranked #83 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cillian was ranked #177 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Cillian and Marcus over time
Cillian and Marcus appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Cillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marcus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2006, Cillian moved ahead of Marcus in Northern Ireland · Boys — #178 and #124 the year before became #110 and #131.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #305 and #111 in 1970 to #9 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Cillian and Marcus were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #9 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1970–2025
Cillian held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Marcus in 12.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #4 in 2024, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order changed in 1985: Cillian moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #148 and #128; by 1985 that had become #135 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cillian #9, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cillian held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Marcus in 25.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #177 in 2024, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order changed in 2022: Cillian moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #274 and #247; by 2022 that had become #223 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cillian #177, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Cillian held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Marcus in 9.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #2 in 2024, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2006: Cillian moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #178 and #124; by 2006 that had become #110 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cillian #2, Marcus #144.
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 | Cillian | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Probably from Old Irish 'cell' (church) combined with a diminutive suffix. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #9 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cillian has a recorded origin (Irish); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Cillian and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Cillian; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys