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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ciara / Keira?

59 replies

Nell96 · 03/03/2021 20:51

Thoughts on Ciara? Irish name, pronounced Keer-a (I believe). We're not Irish, no recent Irish heritage and we live in north-west England - would it be weird? Do you like the name? Would you go for Keira as a spelling instead? It just reminds me of Keira Knightley...

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frogswimming · 03/03/2021 21:33

I think both spellings are easily recognisable and pronounceable. It's a normal everyday pretty name with either. It is always pronounced the same as far as I know. With any spelling - like knightly.

Ellbell24 · 03/03/2021 21:33

I love this name! I personally would choose the Keira spelling but that's just preference! Another way of spelling it is Kira! X

TheAtlas · 03/03/2021 21:31

If you're spelling it with a K it's usually Kiera. Keira Knightley's name was famously misspelled - although she raised the popularity so much that some people started using Keira.

I like Ciara best but all are fine.

Rathmobhaile · 03/03/2021 21:29

I'd use Ciara - as I think people will get used to it and thats the origin of the name. Like names from other cultures in a multicultural society - people get used to names from different backgrounds.

Champy87 · 03/03/2021 21:28

Fwiw Keira knightly has said publicly that her dad spelt her name incorrectly on her BC. It should have been Kiera. Her spelling has become well recognised as she’s so famous but something to consider.

bridgetreilly · 03/03/2021 21:26

I would pronounce Ciara like Chiara, unless I knew the family were Irish, tbh. So in your situation, OP, I think I would choose Keira. Or Kira.

partyatthepalace · 03/03/2021 21:19

Ciara and Keira are pronounced the same in England and Ireland. If you want to use it in England I would definitely go for the Keira spelling OP as people will get it right more often - partly because it’s more phonetic and partly Miss Knightly. It’s a reasonably well known name and if you like it go for it.

Original poster
Nell96 · 03/03/2021 21:14

Perhaps... I think it's a tricky one. Ciara is an Irish name, like Niamh. If you live in England, you might prefer to use the English version, Neave, but Niamh is still a recognized spelling - you wouldn't expect people to pronounce it Nee-am?

OP posts:
LongTimeMammaBear · 03/03/2021 21:02

Well, if you’re in Ireland - great

If not, you (and your child) will forever need to correct people on the pronoun custom because in England at least Ciara is not Keira.

So if you want to name Keira, go for that