Kili as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kili

What is the meaning of the name Kili ?

The baby name Kili is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KEE-lee (/ˈkiːli/),KIL-ee (/ˈkɪli/).

Kili is Norse in Origin.

Kili has layered origins. As Kíli, it appears in the Old Norse Dvergatal (Poetic Edda) as a dwarf-name; its etymology is uncertain, though scholars sometimes connect it to Old Norse kil ‘wedge/keel’ or ‘narrow bay.’ The form was revived and popularized by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Hobbit, giving the name modern visibility, especially in the 2010s.

In South India, kili (Tamil/Malayalam) means ‘parrot’ and serves as a term of endearment, making Kili a lively, affectionate given name or nickname, often feminine. In Europe it also functions as a short form of Kilian/Cillian (from Old Irish cill ‘church/monastery’), lending the saintly association to the diminutive. Variants and related forms include Kíli, Killy, Kilian, and Cillian. Usage today is rare but recognizable across fandom and diaspora communities, with a unisex profile shaped by culture and context; meanings range from ‘parrot’ to the speculative Norse ‘wedge/keel.’