I didn't think this name would be so unpopular

Shortening Cillian to Ian 😂😂😂😂 . Peak Mumsnet.
OP, I have a Cillian and while it is annoying to correct mispronunciations, it’s a beautiful name and I’m very glad I chose it. He is (well was) at school and has never been teased about his name. The kind of people who find this name difficult will find difficulties everywhere.

I had several friends from Hong Kong in uni. Each had chosen an English name upon starting primary school- think Tracy or Henry- and went by their English names primarily at university. I once asked one of them why they even had an English name. The response was that the English would not be able to correctly pronounce their actual names. At the time I thought that was a bit much- surely it's not that difficult to learn how to pronounce a name, even if it doesn't look like it sounds?

Nowadays... well... I see their point.

As others have said, he will spend his life explaining his name through everything. School, doctors, hospital employment and anything else he goes into. He'll need to be sure that the spelling is correct to prevent mix ups. Be prepared for it to be shortened by schoolmates and a bit of teasing. You might find its changed to Ian. Also your family are being a bit nasty, it's not hard to get the hang of. They may well shorten it. When you choose an unusual name expect problems and changes. I work in the nhs and a lot of staff adapt their names to make it easier and quicker for others to get the hang of.

Should have used K instead

As has already been explained on the thread, it's an Irish name and there is no K in Irish, so no they shouldn't.

Should have used K instead

Why change from the proper spelling just because some idiots are unable to remember how it's pronounced? It's not a difficult name.

Should have used K instead xx

silly un

An former work colleague is Irish and he called his son Cillian, its pronounced Killian, alot of Irish names are tricky to pronounce because of how they are spelt. I know 2 girls called Niamh and Roisin (pronounced Neave and Rosheen), all beautiful names though.

I've heard of Cillian Murphy but I've only ever seen his name written down, never heard anyone say it, never seen him on TV, so I would have assumed Sillian (like Gillian).

I love that name, and thanks to Cillian Murphy quite a lot of people know how to pronounce it. It's not obvious that it's a hard c, so yes he will get lots of mispronunciation. But it's a heck of a lot easier than a lot of Irish names, and those seem to be very popular right now. Stick with it and everyone will get the hang of it. I think it's nice to have a name that's unusual but not freakish. Don't let the relatives get to you!

Kill-ee-an because of Cillian Murphy, gorgeous man that he is. How can people not know about him?!

Would know it was Kill-ee-an, but there will be people who won’t know this... but I went through life with people mispronouncing my maiden name.... it’s no biggie. He’ll be fine, and I also think it’s a lovely name :)
You’ll still worry though, it comes with the job description, unfortunately... as a parent you will worry about lots of things... perfectly normal, if really irritating:) Good luck and enjoy your little one x

I'd have got it wrong, sorry OP, in my defence, Australia has bat shit boring names, use many short versions of names or simply "oi mate" we lazy with names
But once corrected, I'd do my best to remember the proper way.

I'd pronounce Sillian, I even though Cillian Murphy was like that! But once I was told the first time how to do it properly, I wouldn't forget.

Modern languages seem to be very optional in England, in Ireland many third level courses demand English,Irish and a European language at leaving cert level, not just for arts subjects.

It's a great name. But then, I'm Irish, lived in England 21 years though. . Never fail to feel perplexed by the English inability to pronounce ANY foreign language names, even after repeated verbal examples.

Also my daughter is called Arya Rey Byrne pronounced Ar i a and her last name I still have to correct family after 10 years with her dad it’s Burn

Kill e an like Cillian Murphy from Peaky Blinders

Cillian was on our boys list (dh is Irish). Friend's called their ds Killian which is phonetically easier to pronounce.

We also liked Taedgh!

Dd1 has a fairly popular Irish name that can be spelt easily but we opted for the prettier, unusual spelling. MN would definitely disapprove 😂

@mathanxiety
As far as I know, An Caighdeán Oifigiúil was intended as a standardisation of spelling and grammar, but not of pronunciation (though I agree all dialectal pronuciations aren't represented by some of the chosen spellings).

I love the name Cillian OP. Hope your in-laws get used to it in time.

I love it and don't really understand why people keep mispronouncing it when you've corrected them.

Doing it once, fair enough, not everyone knows that name in the UK, but multiple times is just silly.

It's pronounced 'Kill-ian'.
On first glance it looks like, 'Gillian'.
I wonder what his nickname will be - surely not 'Kill'.

It's really awful having a name you spend your whole life having to spell because 99.999% of people have no idea, or guess and get it wrong.

Reading the name I'd expect it to sound like Gillian.

I'd have pronounced it silly-an....
Family and friends can be put right....but pupils at school, supply teachers, NHS appointments.
You're going to be repeating it quite a lot.
If you were my family and told me beforehand I would have said great name but maybe use a K.