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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Kieran or Keelan

88 replies

Babybatman · 05/02/2020 12:45

Which do you prefer? Please don't say you hate both as I'm 39 weeks and finding this naming business very hard. These aren't my favourite names but they are the only ones we both like as we have polar opposite taste.

Baby will be half Irish and although we both like the Irish spellings Caolan and Ciaran we both want to for the spelling most likely to get pronounced correctly in England where he will grow up.
Also do you think either will get nicknames/shortened? I don't think so but would be interested to hear thoughts. Thanks!

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Efeble1 · 14/02/2020 16:53

Oh just seen your update! Lovely choice. Congratulations!!!!! Flowers

Efeble1 · 14/02/2020 16:52

Kieran

diddlediddle · 14/02/2020 16:51

Congratulations! Good choice

Original poster
Babybatman · 14/02/2020 11:47

Just a little update for you all. We went for Cillian in the end. He is gorgeous Smile

OP posts:
eggandonion · 07/02/2020 11:35

Keane is really a surname, it had a brief popularity near me where the lovely Roy is a hero. Eric was similar after Cantona when my babies were born. Keane would be a bit like calling a baby Kane ass in Harry.

Wheresthebiffer2 · 06/02/2020 23:56

what about Keane?

diddlediddle · 06/02/2020 21:44

Cillian is lovely and I'm glad after this thread I now know how to pronounce it 😄

Shayisgreat · 06/02/2020 21:27

Oh my goodness all the names you picked (except Keelan) were on my list of names I wanted!

Seamus can be shortened to Shay - we went for that. And Shay is great!

I wouldn't worry too much about others thinking a name is chavvy or mispronouncing a name. My name is constantly mispronounced here (even though there's a fairly famous comedian with the same name) and it's a talking point quite often!

Mincepieready · 06/02/2020 21:13

Super choice! I've never met a bad one!! Glad you've found the name and can relax and enjoy your last few days x

eggandonion · 06/02/2020 21:10

Where I live Conn is short for Cornelius.

mathanxiety · 06/02/2020 20:59

I like Killian / Cillian.
I would use the K spelling to avoid being pronounced Sillian.

Next in order of preference is Kieran. Lovely name, no pronunciation problems. Again, I would use the K spelling.

Keelan / Kaelan I'm not too keen on.

Original poster
Babybatman · 06/02/2020 20:52

@mincepieready - thanks for the suggestions.
Conn is a bit short (our surname is one syllable), not keen on Dara. I do like Oran but we have a Rory and it feels a similar. Lots if O and R sounds. We have toyed with Aran (we love the Isle of Aran) but in the end preferred the Cillian/Keelan etc names.
I feel like I've been through every name in the world!!
Lorcan is nice but so completely alien to me it's hard for me to imagine on our child if that makes sense.
Cillian will probably be his name I think! Smile

OP posts:
Mincepieready · 06/02/2020 20:40

Or Lorcan. My friends wee boy gets Lorky at home.

I think what ever you pick will be great as they are all nice. Cillian is a super name

Mincepieready · 06/02/2020 20:30

What about Conn, Dara or Oran?
I know Dara can be with an I or gh and I do like the Odhran spelling. We too live in the UK so a looks like it sounds name is good especially if it's an accepted if perhaps less used spelling.

Original poster
Babybatman · 06/02/2020 18:18

Can't believe we've gone from Keelan to Podge! Grin

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eggandonion · 06/02/2020 17:53

Choosing Podge would get the dad to refocus.

eggandonion · 06/02/2020 17:52

Choosing Podge would get the dad to refocus. Do people usually hear someone's name before they see it

VirtualHamster · 06/02/2020 17:26

I think Cillian would be more widely known than a few decades ago but I do think you'll find some people start of as they would for Cilla

JaneJeffer · 06/02/2020 17:22

Don't call him Podge!

Kieran or Keelan
Tonz · 06/02/2020 15:18

Cillian is a lovely name. Kieran is as well and definitely not chavvy

Original poster
Babybatman · 06/02/2020 15:12

Thanks all. Opinions on Keelan differ wildly!!
We are leaning towards Cillian now. Cilly for short as I fine Cillian quite a mouthful.

Ciaran/Keiran is a bit 'meh' for both of us.
Still in the running but slipping into third place. The more I say a name the more it annoys me, too much overthinking I think!

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GeePipe · 06/02/2020 14:59

I used to be friends with a boy called keelan. Honestly no one batted an eyelid at his name he was of irish decent but english. Was a nice name.

eggandonion · 06/02/2020 14:54

I have a customer in work called Aine with a fada that my keyboard doesn't do! She pronounces it On-ya (sort of), I pronounce it the way she does as we are from the same province. I tell my boss that Aine is looking for him, and he looks blank. Then a lightbulb goes of... Oh you mean Onnngggya. He is from two provinces away.
Cillian is more straightforward.
Or Padraig, nickname Podge is lovely! Tell the dh you want Podge!

FluffyEggsontoast · 06/02/2020 14:45

I prefer Keelan. Great name

DivGirl · 06/02/2020 14:35

I would have assumed Keelan was a feminine name, and even as a girl's name I dislike the spelling. There's something very mid noughties glamour girl wannabe about it.

Ciaran is lovely though, and I like Cillian.