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Baby names

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

Original poster

I didn't think this name would be so unpopular

716 replies

spookybitches · 21/04/2020 19:06

So all throughout my pregnancy, my husband and I kept our baby name choices to ourselves. My baby is now 2 months old, and nearly everyone we have met or spoken to, have mispronounced it. Granted, we haven't seen many people over the last few weeks, so now I'm starting to wonder if it's just my family or if it's really so unheard of?
My baby boy is called Cillian (DH Irish). My whole family pronounce it silly-an even when I've corrected them numerous times.
Can I ask if you would know how to pronounce Cillian? I'm worried I've set him up for a lifetime correcting people.

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Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:21

@annamaria14 awk away on and grow a set jesus what a sell out

BeBesideTheSea · 21/04/2020 23:21

Featherstonhaugh Is pronounced Fan-shaw. I only know this from Inspector Lindley though Grin

And the given name St John is pronounced Sinjun.

(A friend’s DS is Cillian. I did the radical thing of asking her how it was pronounced as I didn’t know!)

Southwesterly · 21/04/2020 23:20

Your family are idiots. DS has a ‘far more difficult to pronounce for most English people’ Irish first name and surname, and no ones ever had an issue with pronouncing it after it’s been said once.

Pangur2 · 21/04/2020 23:19

Yeah I really don't think it should affect college or anything like that. Totally unfair.

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 23:19

@Vgtasd because I have learned social skills, and I am also a nice person

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 23:18

@Pangur2 studying Irish has a huge impact on the rest of our lives. It defines whether we get into college or not.

Many people do not want to study it. Barely anyone uses it as adults. It should be an option for sure

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:17

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Pangur2 · 21/04/2020 23:16

I think having to do it until Junior Cert is ok but having to do it for Leaving Cert is a bit much. But then I would think that 'cos I'm shite at it!

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 23:15

@vgtasd why are you so aggressive?

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:15

Totally agree @tontie

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 23:14

I really wish that Irish wasn't mandatory in schools in Ireland. What a waste of years of my life. We should have the choice to learn it or not

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:12

@pangur2 don't be a dick you know what I meant

Pangur2 · 21/04/2020 23:10

@abiirthdaycake cnoc means hill! I remember! It's all coming back. I won't need to download Duolingo at this rate.

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:09

You only have to look at St paddys day

Pangur2 · 21/04/2020 23:08

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Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:08

Yeah but she's not pronouncing it that way 🙄

GlamGiraffe · 21/04/2020 23:07

It's one thing not knowing how to pronounce the name the first time you see it written down, however once told thete is no excuse. If people continue mispronouncing it they are either incredibly stupid or most likely just being totally disrespectful to you and your child. If it was me I would have to point that out....

Mustbethewine · 21/04/2020 23:07

I'm welsh and both DC have very welsh names and are mispronounced by everybody who isn't welsh but to be fair upon correction most people will remember the correct pronunciation. I think your family are just being dicks by continuously getting it wrong!

Pangur2 · 21/04/2020 23:04

@eggandonion I can ask to go to the bathroom, say I like chocolate and that there's clouds in the sky. I can now also pronounce Conchubhair correctly because of this thread. Sure that's all you need?

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:04

@pangur B in Irish but can't pronounce Cillian jesus wise up

Positivevibesonlyplease · 21/04/2020 23:04

I thought most people would know how to pronounce it, because of Cillian Murphy, the actor. I wouldn’t worry, I’m sure by the time he’s in school, everyone will have cottoned on. It doesn’t really matter until then, does it? You can just correct them. It’s a great Irish name, in my opinion.

tontie · 21/04/2020 23:03

no, children at school just accept that names are names. They’ll learn it’s pronounced as Kill-ee-an long before they register how it’s written so that won’t happen. Plus, there’s such a wide spectrum of names in most classes that they all just accept what each other is called without question.

This, my child goes to school with children from all different backgrounds & different names & I work with lots of people who have different names.
Some people on MNs must lead incredibly sheltered lives.

abiirthdaycake · 21/04/2020 23:03

Cru-hoor is definitely the Irish Featherstonhaugh!! We have tons of weird mutations that I'm sure @mathanxiety can explain a lot better than I can - the only other one that I can recall at the moment is Cnoc

eggandonion · 21/04/2020 23:03

Yes, Sadhbh called her baby Sophie!
DD2 is refreshing her Irish using the RTE school programme. She has honours Irish, but doesn't know days of the week, or months, or anything that isn't present tense.

Vgtasd · 21/04/2020 23:02

Sorry @annamaria14 I actually mentioned you as annamarie14 in my last post as Anna Maria isn't really Irish 🙈

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