James vs Killian

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Killian

Boy #370 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"associated with the church"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish French American English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#370
Total SSA Count
884
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Killy, Kill, Ian

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Killian →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Killian Rank #370

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #370 for Killian.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Killian ___

  • Killian James
  • Killian Patrick
  • Killian Thomas
  • Killian Finn
  • Killian Rory
  • Killian Sean

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Killian

Cormac Riordan Aoife Declan Niamh

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is James or Killian more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Killian at #370 in the United States.

What do James and Killian mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Killian means "associated with the church" (Irish Gaelic origin).

Are James and Killian boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Killian is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Killian vs James James vs Matteo James vs Jason James vs Micah James vs Amari
← Full profile: James ← Full profile: Killian Browse all baby names