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Baby names

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Rían or Riain

36 replies

FreakingOutRightNow · 16/05/2020 08:54

Need your thoughts on the above! We are an Irish couple living in London and love this name but appreciate that if we are to raise our son here, the name needs to click also with British people and not sound too odd for a name for a boy.

Do you have a preferred variation in terms of the spelling? I love the accent/fada and think london is such an international city now things like accents in names are not such an issue. Also, he has the option of dropping it if not keen. Would you agree?

Both are pronounced REE-an.

OP posts:
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LizzieAnt · 16/05/2020 12:34

Hi OP, the correct spelling of the first name is Rian as far as I know. I've never seen a fada used. Riain is incorrect as a first name. The surname is spelt Ó Riain, but it would be like using Williams as a first name in English instead of William, if you see what I mean.

Humphriescushion · 16/05/2020 11:56

If i heard it pronounced Ree an i would also assume it was a girls name. Is a popularish ( well my era anyway) name in wales - rhian ( One of my

helpmum2003 · 16/05/2020 11:53

I would say Ree-an for the 1st one and be confused by the 2nd.

Ryan didn't enter my head but Rhian welsh girls name did.

Sparklypurpleunicornsaremyfav · 16/05/2020 11:50

I'm with @Mumoftwoyoungkids, I thought you meant the welsh girls name Rhian. I would look at it and think it's pronounced Ryan, which I love

badtime · 16/05/2020 11:15

I think Riain is more likely to be pronounced wrongly - it looks like it could be ree-ayn.

PuntoEBasta · 16/05/2020 11:07

I have taught some Rians pronounced Ryan in London so I'm afraid even with a fada you will get this pronunciation. Most people also don't know how to use the accents on their keyboards so it will frequently be dropped.

I think Riain is more likely to garner the correct pn.

emmathedilemma · 16/05/2020 11:03

Hmm, @Mumoftwoyoungkids makes a very valid point and if you spell it Rian people will probably pronounce it like Ryan.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 16/05/2020 09:32

Just to warn you Rhian is a welsh girls name. I have heard it pronounced REE-an and Ree-ANN. I initially thought that Rian / Riain would therefore be a girl’s name.

LuckyFlash · 16/05/2020 09:27

I know a Rian in London (no accent) I think it’s a great name. I think Riain might cause pronunciation confusion so prefer the former (I would probably have pronounced that ree-Ayn) I don’t think the accent would be an issue here at all although I have to admit I didn’t notice it at first and just thought it was an I so you may get that.

AngelaScandal · 16/05/2020 08:59

Bring on the fada. Go for it

BarbeDeMaman · 16/05/2020 08:55

Rían definitely

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