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Baby names

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Original poster

Which spelling? Ciaran or Kieran?

31 replies

EarthMither · 31/12/2013 11:55

NB not a debate on the name itself, just wondering whether people prefer the Irish (C) or the Scottish (K) spelling.

I am torn having grown up with an obscure Irish surname which was a PITA in terms of having to constantly spell it out, so would be interested to know others' views - TIA

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sarahquilt · 31/12/2013 20:39

Ciaran is better but it should have a fada over the second a. Kieran with a k is a complete modernisation which has nothing to do with the Irish name as there is no letter k in the Irish (Gaelic) alphabet, or wxyz or v for that matter.

sarahquilt · 31/12/2013 20:38

Ciaran is better but it should have a fada over the second a. Kieran with a k is a complete modernisation which has nothing to do with the Irish name as there is no letter k in the Irish (Gaelic) alphabet, or wxyz or v for that matter.

ToffeeJungle · 31/12/2013 18:39

Another vote for Ciaran!

ThePigOfHappiness · 31/12/2013 18:16

Ciaràn is lovely :)
More people should choose great Irish names!

soontobeslendergirl · 31/12/2013 18:14

Earth we had the same debate. I wanted Keir or Kerr, OH wanted Ciaran - a week and a half later we compromised :)

He was dark when he was born, went blond and now at age 12 is finally going dark again - he is already 5' 8" with loads of growing still to do.

I am sure your Ciaran will love his name. I know probably equal amounts of both spellings - think it will be easy enough to say it's Ciaran with a "c" and most people will be fine. We struggle more with Ciar. However in an area where Keir is reasonably common, he is unique!

starofbethlehemfishmummy · 31/12/2013 16:14

I prefer Ciaran but I think you would need to be prepared for people not heing sure how to pronounce it

Original poster
EarthMither · 31/12/2013 15:45

Thanks for all the replies - Ciaran is the clear winner. I also really like Keir as other posters have suggested, but DH not keen unfortunately. I am content with Ciaran though Smile

SPsWantsCliffInHerStocking - I know what you mean about MN and 'K' names - apart from 'Kit' which loads of people seem to love (but are never "brave enough" to use - me included!).

soontobeslendergirl - many thanks for the interesting etymological background to the names and variants - I suspect the baby's going to be neither little nor dark, but hey ho Wink

Thanks again for all the feedback

OP posts:
SS3J · 31/12/2013 15:18

Just go with the one you prefer the look of. If you are in England then Ciaran is more unusual - don't know if that makes a difference either way for you.

soontobeslendergirl · 31/12/2013 13:45

both pronounced the same in my part of Scotland too.

TheCraicDealer · 31/12/2013 13:44

Keir is a great name!

SootikinAndSweep · 31/12/2013 13:39

Ciaran, definitely.

Although I also love Keir.

AnnabelleLee · 31/12/2013 13:36

not pronounced at all differently where I live. Ciaran is keer-an.

BackforGood · 31/12/2013 13:36

I guess it depends where the child is likely to be living.
I'm in England and would assume Kieran if someone told me that was their name, but only because that is how the majority of Kieran's I've come across spell their names.

WhoNickedMyName · 31/12/2013 13:31

Ciaran.

Havinganose · 31/12/2013 13:28

They are pronounced differently

Ciaran - kee-rawn
Kieran - kee- rin or keern

Theonlyoneiknow · 31/12/2013 13:25

I prefer Kieran.

My DS has a name beginning with a K although it is spelt correctly

Norudeshitrequired · 31/12/2013 13:19

Just that somebody upthread said that K names were frowned upon, which I found a very odd comment. But I do agree that C's randomly changed to K's is weird (same as any other spelling randomly changed).

AnnabelleLee · 31/12/2013 13:17

K names are not frowned upon. Only K's that should be C's are frowned upon, so if you said "I want to call the baby Kieran because my nan was ?Irish" then you'll be told its a C not a K etc.
K names that are meant to be K's are fine, but randomly changed to K's are hideous (Kourtney, Khloe etc).

Ciaran has never been a girls name, thats Ciara.

Norudeshitrequired · 31/12/2013 13:17

Katherina, kaitlyn, are both nice names beginning with K.

soontobeslendergirl · 31/12/2013 13:16

I've never heard of a female Ciaran (or Kieran) either - plenty or Kiera, Ciara or Keiras though.

Norudeshitrequired · 31/12/2013 13:13

Never heard of a female ciaran, but have heard of females called Ciara. Ciaran is thought of as a traditional Irish name, Kieran as English.
Why are k names frowned upon? I like some K names; Kate, Kieran... I will think of more.

Witchesbrewandbiscuits · 31/12/2013 13:10

to me, ciaran is female, kieran is male. based on experience of people I have met.

deemented · 31/12/2013 13:04

Ciaran.

hawkmcqueen · 31/12/2013 13:01

Ciaran definitely

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/12/2013 12:55

Oooh love Keir!

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