Cillian vs Rion
Cillian and Rioncompared 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 2023, Cillian was ranked #4 and Rion #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Cillian was ranked #9 and Rion #779 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Cillian was ranked #217 and Rion #1226 among boys in England and Wales.
Cillian and Rion over time
Cillian and Rion appear together in 1 published list, across 27 years of shared records. Cillian held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Rion 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Cillian #177 in 2024, Rion #924 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1999–2025
Cillian held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rion in 3.
Highest recorded here: Cillian #177 in 2024, Rion #924 in 2024.
The order changed in 2005: Cillian moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #3009 and #1347; by 2005 that had become #1190 and #2418.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cillian #217, Rion #1226.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Cillian
Pairs where Cillian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jason vs Cillian
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Jason fell — from #53 and #305 in 1970 to #135 and #9 in 2025.
Jason · Cillian · 55 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Cillian vs Marcus
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.
Cillian · Marcus · 55 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Cillian vs Nicholas
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Nicholas fell — from #305 and #81 in 1970 to #9 and #198 in 2025.
Cillian · Nicholas · 55 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Cillian vs Ronan
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #305 and #54 in 1970 to #9 and #86 in 2025.
Cillian · Ronan · 55 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Cillian | Rion |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #9 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1226 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cillian has a recorded origin (Irish); Rion does not have one recorded yet.
- Cillian has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rion.
- A meaning is recorded for Cillian; Rion doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #217 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Rion
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #1850 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2020–2023
Highest recorded position: #334 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 2020–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys