How would you pronounce this?

[HardCheese]

'Rian' is an Irish boy's name we were considering for our baby-to-be, pronounced 'REE-an'. However, it occurred to me that many or most people in the UK would assume it was a makey-uppy 'alternative' spelling of Ryan and pronounce it that way, which I would hate. (Not wild about various half-assed Irish-American 'Irish' baby name sites that say stuff like 'Brogan is a very common name in Ireland'. Well, yes, but as a surname - it would be the equivalent of a UK baby having 'Smith' as a first name...)

So, would you assume 'Rian' was pronouonced 'Ryan'? Put me out of my misery, so we can cross it off and move on. Thanks.

[YougreatChristmaspudding]

It is Ree-an to me, I wouldn't have even thought of Ryan.

[purepurple]

I would pronounce it Ryan, unless you told me otherwise and then I would use the correct pronouncation.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes, I would assume it was a made-up version of Ryan. Sorry.

[Svrider]

I also would have thought ryan, unless told otherwise
Then again I would think ree ann would be a girls name.....
Disclaimer
Don't know anything about Irish names

[PurplePidjInAPearTree]

I would assume it was a girl's name, like Rhianne!

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Yes I would assume it was pronounced Ryan, as a friend of mine called his son Rion but wanted it to be pronounced Ryan.

[HardCheese]

I had a feeling that was what I was going to hear - thanks, all. Back to the drawing board.

Part of the issue being that the baby may grow up in the UK or Ireland - or possibly somewhere else entirely - so we're reluctant to give him one of the commoner Irish names that are more recognised and thus more readily pronounced in the UK, because they are just too common in Ireland, and he might end up in a classroom full of identically-named little boys.

And a couple of names we both like clash disastrously with his surname. Groan. He's going to be 'the baby' until he's about ten at this rate.

[proudfoot]

I would have thought of it as Ree-an to rhyme with Kian, but I have never heard of it before so wouldn't be sure. I do like the sound of it much better than Ryan but I can see the difficulty with it...

[Pishtushette]

I thought Ryan

[mathanxiety]

Funny because Ryan is a madey uppey mispronounced version of Rian after all.

Would you consider the similar Ruadhán (ROO-awn)?

[louby86]

I thought 'ree an' Ryan never came into it until you mentioned it

[ChippyMinton]

Proudfoot - all the Kians I know are pronounced Ky-an, like Ryan.

OP, on that basis I would've pronouned Rian as Ryan. Sorry.

[PercyFilth]

I'm not familiar with the name, but immediately assumed it was pronounced as in Ian, Adrian etc.

[LaTristesse]

I read it as Ree-an (rhymes with Ian). I like it, but I think you may have to explain it when you, and he, meets new people.

[Ihatepeas]

Yes I thought Ryan. Sorry.

[Shutupanddrive]

I thought ree-an too

[AnotherMincepie]

I think it sounds like a girls name.

[thisisyesterday]

i would have assumed ree-ann

[mybootsaremuddy]

I would think Ree-an because I know a little boy called Kian. So would just assume like I did when I first met him, that it was prn like Ian with an extra letter at the front.

[tabulahrasa]

I would have read it Ryan, but most people hear a name first, so I wouldn't have thought it really mattered

[LCarbury]

Rhian (ree-an) is a girl's name, I'm sure of it

[tammytoby]

I thought Rian to rhyme with Ian. In continental Europe everyone would pronounce it that way too. But yes, perhaps some English/Americans might pronounce it Ry-an initially.

[controlpantsandgladrags]

I would think you were either misspelling Ryan or Rhian tbh.

[jingleyells]

I know a boy named Ruan which is quite nice, but is Cornish I believe.

[coronet]

I really like it. Would assume Ryan at first, but would be intrigued at pronunciation Ree-ann. I'd go for it, it is a lovely name.