Irish actor, Cillian Murphy, was born in Cork, in Ireland, on May 25, 1976. Best known for his role as gangster Tommy Shelby in the series, Peaky Blinders, he is often celebrated for his particularly intense acting style.
A lover of performance from a young age, Murphy turned first to rock music as a teen, before deciding to go into acting at university. His breakthrough came when he starred in the 2002 zombie movie, 28 Days Later and his career hasn’t stalled since then.
He has appeared in Inception, The Dark Night, and more recently, in the much-anticipated biopic, Oppenheimer. A winner of both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, Cillian Murphy prefers to keep his personal life private and rarely talks of his life outside of acting.
Cillian is a distinctly Irish name, which can mean ‘little church’ or ‘war-strife’. Pronounced “kill-ee-un”, it was the name of a 7th century saint, and it currently ranks in the Top 10 in Ireland.
While the anglicized spelling, Killian, is currently more popular in the US – perhaps because it helps avoid mispronunciations – Cillian is trending upwards. The latest SSA Data saw it leap more than 130 places up the charts after jumping 150 spots the year before, with the actor making it feel more familiar.
Another contender is the French form, Kylian, whose rise up the charts was probably inspired by footballer, Kylian Mbappe.
Rugged and tough, with a hint of softness underneath, Cillian is popular among Nameberry visitors, where it fits right in with other Berry favorites, like Caspian, Magnus, Orion, and Rory.
And, to end, a bit of trivia for any fans of Irish names or cohesive sibsets! You’ll be pleased to know that Cillian Murphy’s parents gave his siblings equally distinctive Irish names: Páidi, Sile, and Orla.
Thanks for giving the pronounciation!