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Baby names

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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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Intothefuture · 21/04/2020 20:48

I’d never heard of it until Cillian Murphy so a lot of people won’t know it.

CremeEggThief · 21/04/2020 20:48

There is no K in the Irish language, originally.

YahBasic · 21/04/2020 20:47

Kill ee un for me.

We love the name and have it on our list. I’d have actually thought it’s one of the easiest Irish baby names.

I have an Irish name living in England and people normally ask how to pronounce it once and can use it properly since then. I love my name & wouldn’t change it for the world.

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 20:46

Yes Irish names are difficult.

HopeYouGotTheLetter · 21/04/2020 20:46

How would people here have pronounced Niamh whem they first saw it?

Nee-um.

Like Liam but with an N 😆

babycornplease · 21/04/2020 20:45

Kill-I-an. Said quickly. Gorgeous name op.

I have a Ciara and you wouldn't believe the trouble that's caused, even with the recent storm... si-air-uh was an eye opener when they called it out at the pharmacy before lockdown started...

saraclara · 21/04/2020 20:45

Its obviously Kill ee an.
Just ignore the silliness.

Obviously to you, maybe. But clearly not to many of us here. I assumed it was Sill-ee-an too.

As for other people's snarky comments re: and actor with that name...seriously? Just because they've heard of him doesn't mean everyone has. I've seen the name but never heard it spoken.

snidgetowl · 21/04/2020 20:44

Kill-ee-an, like Cillian Murphy pronounces his name. I'm a first language Welsh speaker however so pronouncing with the hard C is what comes naturally.

CremeEggThief · 21/04/2020 20:44

Yep, because I'm Irish.

However, even in Ireland, I know Killians as well as Cillians now. Similar to Kierans as well as Ciarans.

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 20:44

How would people here have pronounced Niamh whem they first saw it?

I am wondering how Irish names translate

Roomba · 21/04/2020 20:43

I'd say Kill-ee-an as in Cillian Murphy. It's not that unusual a name, surely! I've met a couple here in the NW.

As for family being arse holes over it, ignore, ignore, ignore. My mother told me DS1's name is 'absolutely horrible' and asked if I was joking when I told her what it was after his birth. She still only calls him by the shortened version, but quite a few people do that anyway so he doesn't notice. She's got a few sly digs in about his 'Sunday name' over the years, we just avoid spending too much time with her (due to many other digs over the years too).

megletthesecond · 21/04/2020 20:42

I always assumed it was Silly-an.
But if I was corrected I wouldn't make the mistake twice.

DarkDarkNight · 21/04/2020 20:41

That should say so not is.

Orphlids · 21/04/2020 20:40

I must admit when I first saw the name written down years ago, I assumed it was Silly-ann. But upon being corrected once, I was forever more able to say it correctly. I really like it actually - great name.

DarkDarkNight · 21/04/2020 20:40

I know one (as well as the dreamy Cillian Murphy) is I would know. Hard C like a ‘k’. I have a Son with an Irish name and people generally pronounce it right but spell it in several different ways. Doesn’t bother me, it’s the traditional spelling but I don’t mind people writing a more Phonetic version.

It’s not that hard though. Your family and friends should only need to be told once, I’d be pretty pissed off if they continued to get it wrong.

HedgehogHotel · 21/04/2020 20:39

Hard 'C' sound, but I know this primarily because a friend's little boy has the same name.

Annamaria14 · 21/04/2020 20:39

I am half Irish, so I know it is pronounced

Kill - i - an.

I would know that people struggle with Irish names abroad though

FizzyGreenWater · 21/04/2020 20:39

It is AMAZING the number of relatives who get really funny and passive aggressive about baby names if they're even a little bit unusual. It's like a mix of being unable to handle not having a say plus an air of don't get above yourselves with your fancy name, Sarah or Mark was good enough for us so what's with THIS? I can't even say it! Ridiculous! etc.

I have known more than one person deal with it swiftly and efficiently by being all smiles as they refuse to let twatty rellies see the baby 'Oh sorry, we don't want her confused. Let's just wait a few months before we let you visit, just to give you time to learn the name'

Sorted in no time Grin

GaryWilmottsTeeth · 21/04/2020 20:39

Domhnaill? Yeah. Sadhbh? Of course. Caoimhe?

Erm, excuse my ignorance, but how do you say the first two names? Blush

I think Caoimhe is said like Keeva?

Fixitquick · 21/04/2020 20:38

I would pronounce it "silly an" Confused

HeavyDeuty · 21/04/2020 20:38

I would have said Killian because of Cillian Murphy. Without knowing him I would have mispronounced it but, once corrected, I would say it right. I have that kind of name - people always mispronounce it until I correct them (and sometimes they persist even after that), but it hasn't bothered me. I still like my name Smile

StraightAndNarrow · 21/04/2020 20:36

I’m from an Irish family, so knew it was
Kill-ee-an.

It’s a lovely name. Weird that your family aren’t getting it!

amazedmummy · 21/04/2020 20:36

It's lovely, I would balls it up once but when you told me how to pronounce it properly I'd remember.

smokescreen · 21/04/2020 20:35

Why does your family keep pronouncing it wrongly? Passive aggressive imo

SueEllenMishke · 21/04/2020 20:33

I knew it was pronounced Killian but that because I’m half Irish.

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