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Baby names

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

Original poster

Cillian, Keelan or Caelan

58 replies

Babybatman · 06/02/2020 16:51

Me again! Sorry for more threads but I've narrowed it down to these three and in 6 days time you'll be rid of me Grin
Live in England, half Irish baby. These are the spellings we would use (not Caolan as I think it's too confusing here and I think Killian looks too much like 'Kill')
Cillian is pronounced Kill-ee-un
Caelan is pronounced Kay-lun
Keelan pronounced as written

Thanks and please be kind as we have really struggled to come to a middle ground on names.

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abiirthdaycake · 15/02/2020 20:03

Congrats!

Cucumbersalad · 14/02/2020 18:34

Congratulations!! It's a gorgeous name for your gorgeous little boy.

Original poster
Babybatman · 14/02/2020 15:14

Thanks Smile I'm getting more and more used to it and I've had some nice reactions.
I keep calling him Cilly which feels cuter for when he's little and squidgy 😍

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 14/02/2020 13:37

Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! Cillian is a beautiful name. (It doesn't sound like a man's name - as opposed to a child's name - to me, but then I've met a few little Cillians.)

Original poster
Babybatman · 14/02/2020 11:42

Little update, we went for Cillian and the end. He is here and he is gorgeous. Smile
I am struggling to see it on a baby though, has anyone else felt like this? Feels like he has a man's name, I know that's silly. I'm hoping I get used to it.

OP posts:
Rachelhaydenberk1 · 08/02/2020 21:39

Loving Keelan

abiirthdaycake · 08/02/2020 21:06

Kilian is the most popular German spelling - St Kilian was spelt that way iirc. Cillian is the standard Irish spelling though.

Caelan I don't like because it seems "made up" to me. Love Caolán (or Caolan) but the caol sound is indeed an awkward one for non-Gaeilgeoirí.

Keelan sounds too much like Caoilfhionn/Caoileann/etc (girls' name) for me

user1483387154 · 08/02/2020 09:36

ah we are in a German speaking EU country. So non UK atm

Original poster
Babybatman · 08/02/2020 08:12

@user1483387154 where are you based if you don't mind me asking? I haven't come across the 'Kilian' spelling.

OP posts:
ThighThighofthigh · 08/02/2020 00:32

I know a baby Kailen, I thought it was made up. Maybe it is?

L0bstersLass · 08/02/2020 00:01

Cillian is a lovely, traditional name.

JollyGiraffe12 · 07/02/2020 23:44

Cillian

Jennylou88 · 07/02/2020 23:23

We've got a cillian! Who is 4 months old. We spelt it Killian though and mostly call him Killie or Kit as his initials also spell Kit. We get loads of complements on it and I've not met any other Killians yet so it's not overused! Xxx

victoria0132 · 07/02/2020 20:57

Cillian but they're both nice options

Original poster
Babybatman · 07/02/2020 20:37

It's nice to see some people liking Caelan. I really like but thought people might say it looks made up. I think it's cool. We are choosing between Cillian and Caelan now. I think Keelan is off the table.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 07/02/2020 17:19

I know a fabulous teenage Caelan and he doesn't have problems with people mispronouncing his name, so I'd go with that.

Original poster
Babybatman · 07/02/2020 09:53

I think Cillian is the most popular on here. I'm slightly nervous about the Sill-ee-un issue but I don't think it's enough to put me off. Keelan is more straightforward but we really don't want people thinking we've just made up a name.
I'll be practicing saying Cillian over the next few days to see if it feels natural. I feel like it's the kind of name a teenager and man would love to have. It's kind of cool and different but still masculine.

OP posts:
user1483387154 · 07/02/2020 07:14

I teach several kilians. Nicknames are kili, kiki (keykey) and kicks. A lot use only full name.

bitheby · 07/02/2020 06:59

Caelan for me definitely but I liked the Caol spelling. Anyone he has to spend lots of time with will learn how to say it.

WardrobeJumper · 07/02/2020 06:49

Cillian

dayowl · 06/02/2020 23:43

Caelan

Buttercup54321 · 06/02/2020 23:41

Kailan.

Focalpoint · 06/02/2020 23:37

I'd have thought Keelan is an anglicised version of Caoilfhionn which is a girls name.

DramaAlpaca · 06/02/2020 23:25

I also agree with the regional pronunciation of Caol, and would go for Cillian.

Astronica · 06/02/2020 23:16

Cillian

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