Ciaran

I like it very much, classic Irish.

@Littlehomemaker1
I guess it depends on the intent of the person saying it, which can sometimes be hard to judge, I suppose. Just wouldn't want to jump to conclusions. I'm Irish, so personally regard 'very Irish' names extremely favourably, of course

It's my DGS's name and I love it. Spelt without the fada though - we're plastic paddies too

I like it but I prefer Kieran. It was actually on my list of boys names last year when expecting DC3.

I read it as a negative comment, too, @Littlehomemaker1. perhaps because there is so often such negativity towards Irish boys’ names in particular on here, and monoglot headshakings about him facing a life of mispronunciations from people who feel that babies likely to grow up in the UK should all be called George and Sophie.

[quote LizzieAnt]@Littlehomemaker1
I don't think one can necessarily assume a negative implication when someone says a name is very Irish though. Likewise, if someone says Diego, for example, is very Spanish I'd simply take it as a statement of fact.[/quote]
It is aligned with a negative - it was said the name Ciaran was "dated" (a negative) and "very Irish" (the inference being a negative one).

@Littlehomemaker1
I don't think one can necessarily assume a negative implication when someone says a name is very Irish though. Likewise, if someone says Diego, for example, is very Spanish I'd simply take it as a statement of fact.

It wouldn’t be my choice but I don’t agree that it’s dated. It’s one of those names that isn’t overused but there’s usually at least one in school. More frequently not the Irish spelling though. I like Irish names. My own son has one. If you like it go for it.

I have a Ciar instead - the -an bit meaning little and we didn't think he's be little and he isn't. We live somewhere that Keir is popular and we pronounce it the same.

Love it, and what does dated even mean now? Theres a huge mix of old and new names out there!!

I think Kieran is quite dated but Ciaran is fresh over here as you don't get many of them.
I like it. We considered it but went for Cillian in the end.

I love it. Lots in my generation (early 30s) so I suppose might be a bit dated but it’s still a great name. In NI all the Ciarans I’ve known have omitted the fada and pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable (like Kieran); but friends from the south have had the fada and the Ciar-awn pronunciation.

If skip the fada if I were you since you live in England.

why would there be anything wrong with being Irish, the OP asked what we thought of it and that's my gut reaction @geekaMaxima !

I know 4 Ciaran / Kierons. All lovely men. I like the name

I like Ciaran. I also like Rory, Ronan and Tadgh. Rory and Ronan are well known and easy to pronounce whilst having a nice nod to your heritage. Ronan/Roman/Rowan are rising in popularity which may or not bother you.

Oisín is my favourite Irish boys name, and the Welsh version (Osian) is on my list. I like the legend of Oisín and Niamh/Osian a Nia.

Ciarán / Kieran is an excellent name. I like both the authentic Irish spelling and the anglicised version. Much more interesting than yet another Jack / Joshua / Thomas without being common, in any sense of the word.

I like Ciaran, and it doesn't seem dated to me, personally.

I also like Caelan, Rory, Ronan, Conor. Tadhg is a cool name too. I live in Scotland and know 1 - it definitely confuses new people but I imagine it would be worse in England.

I also like Ruairi and Cian.

[quote SisterCellophane]@TheDaydreamBelievers I like Caelan too but even though it's irrational I worry that the fact it means "slender" is too much pressure haha.[/quote]
I think it was hormones, but we liked Gregor for our ds and I seriously discounted it in case he was built like me, (on the bigger side, naturally and as a result of cake), and people picked on him for being fond of Gregg's! I honestly thought this was a real reason to discount it. Silly looking back, but you know. Also, mn kept telling me it was a viking name . His name is probably better and he really, really suits it. The minute he was born I thought "he is SUCH a [his name]" .

It’s a bit dated- I know a few in their thirties (in Ireland) and then none younger. Similar to Darren or Gareth, it’s really had a moment in the 1980s.

Tadhg is a tricky one for sure! I think one of the Saturdays names her son Tadhg a while ago though, so you never know!

I think Ciaran without the fada would be the way to go if you want the same pronunciation as Kieran, but don't like the Kieran spelling. Just based on the only Ciarán I know being very specific that he is kee-RAWN, not Kieran.

Keir is lovely too. I think it's Scottish? Dh vetoed for DS though as he said it sounds like a drink . He isn't wrong tbf, but I don't care. Still love Keir! Love kirs too...and kir royales...

How are you pronouncing it OP? Where I am in Munster Kieran is Kier-an, Ciarán is Kier-AWN - the second syllable is emphasized in Munster so it's quite long drawn out. When I've been in Galway/Sligo though, I've noticed that people pronunce it a bit differently. Ciaráns and Kierans both seem to be KIER-awn, with the emphasis more on the first syllable (I think).
OK, I'm probably confusing things, sorry. It's a lovely name

Love the name Ciaran! I don’t think it has dated at all (I’m also Irish). Agree with previous posts that the fada changes the pronunciation. Prefer it without tbh.