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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce this?

33 replies

HardCheese · 10/12/2011 16:58

'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.

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winkle2 · 19/12/2011 22:26

I thought Rian to rhyme with Ian. I think it's a lovely unusual name but not too wacky! Do it!

lemonpuff · 18/12/2011 09:29

I know two!! both re-ann, both boys, surely when people are first introduced they will remember his name?

sashh · 18/12/2011 08:48

I would think Ryan - to me (English) it sounds like Brian without the B.

You could give him an Irish name and if you go to Ireland start using the English version. The comedian Sean Hughes is really John Hughes.

Does it matter what other people think? Yo and your son will know it is an Irish name

Get0rf · 16/12/2011 23:58

I would assume it is an alternative spelling of Rhian , the girl's name.

lowimpactmama · 16/12/2011 23:51

It's funny but I've never heard of Rian for a boy (am Irish) but have a first cousin once removed called Rian (with a fada over the i) who's a girl - her mother (my first cousin) always said it was the Irish for Regina...

But I agree that if you like it just go for it. It's so easy to correct how to pronounce or spell a name...I have a common name (Catherine) and spend my time spelling it as so many versions of it. It's really not a hassle at all!

MCos · 16/12/2011 20:47

Ah, Rian is a lovely name, has a lovely sound to it. Why be so worried about what people think? You KNOW it is not a makey-upy name...
I lived abroad with 2 DDs with very gaelic names, and liked that those names were not so common.

hohohoshedittant · 13/12/2011 23:41

I know a Rian with Irish parents and they pronounce it Ryan. I wonder whether they were going for Ree-an and just got fed up correcting people all the time?! I would assume Ree-an was a girls name as well.

SoupDragon · 13/12/2011 20:33

I read it as Ryan.

I do like it as Ree-an though. I don't think it would take long for people to get used to it.

coronet · 13/12/2011 20:26

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.

jingleyells · 13/12/2011 16:03

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

controlpantsandgladrags · 13/12/2011 16:00

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

tammytoby · 12/12/2011 21:14

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.

LCarbury · 12/12/2011 21:11

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

tabulahrasa · 12/12/2011 21:07

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

mybootsaremuddy · 12/12/2011 21:04

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.

thisisyesterday · 12/12/2011 20:19

i would have assumed ree-ann

AnotherMincepie · 12/12/2011 20:14

I think it sounds like a girls name.

Shutupanddrive · 12/12/2011 17:09

I thought ree-an too

Ihatepeas · 11/12/2011 10:39

Yes I thought Ryan. Sorry.

LaTristesse · 10/12/2011 19:40

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.

PercyFilth · 10/12/2011 19:01

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

ChippyMinton · 10/12/2011 18:18

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

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

louby86 · 10/12/2011 18:16

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

mathanxiety · 10/12/2011 18:14

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

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

Pishtushette · 10/12/2011 17:53

I thought Ryan