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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on these boys names?

63 replies

coffeewithmilk · 07/08/2021 07:30

Myself and my husband have cut down a long list of boys names that we like, but still not 100% sure. They're a mix of Irish/Scottish
What do you think;

-Ewan
-Caolann (pronounced kay-linn)

  • Cillian
  • Connell
  • Oisin

Please be honest if you don't like the name

Thank you

OP posts:
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BikeRunSki · 10/08/2021 13:45

I liked Connell until I read/watched Normal People, and now just associate it with the male lead/misogynistic dickhead in that.

CatRamsey · 10/08/2021 13:38

I love Connell!

BikeRunSki · 10/08/2021 13:37

The Yorkshire based Oisin I know gets “Ocean”.

Do you live in the UK OP?

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 13:33

Eòin, Eoghan, Ewan, Euan are variants of the same name.

Anoisagusaris · 09/08/2021 20:12

@MummytoGeorgie Irish names are pronounced as they are spelt. Different languages you know??

Connell - I’ve never seen that as first name, only Conal.

DacwMamYnDwad · 09/08/2021 20:08

@TatianaBis

That was my point - Ioan is the Welsh version of John. Ewan is considered the Scottish version of John, altho there are other etymologies.
It's Eòin not Ewan.
MrsTomDelonge · 09/08/2021 19:47

Cillian would be my first choice followed by Ewan.

TatianaBis · 09/08/2021 19:47

That was my point - Ioan is the Welsh version of John. Ewan is considered the Scottish version of John, altho there are other etymologies.

CoalCraft · 09/08/2021 19:41

Only one I like is Ewan

romdowa · 09/08/2021 19:27

Cillian is my favourite of all your names

DacwMamYnDwad · 09/08/2021 19:20

They may bem but the Welsh for John, as in the Bible, is Ioan. There are variants of John, and Iwan is probably the one that is nearest to Ewan.

TatianaBis · 09/08/2021 13:55

[quote DacwMamYnDwad]@TatianaBis, Ioan isn't the welsh version of Ewan, but Iwan might be.

@EmbarrassingMama, Peaky Blinders[/quote]
They’re both Welsh/Scottish forms of John.

TatianaBis · 09/08/2021 13:51

@EmbarrassingMama

Why is Cillian so popular? Am I the only person who thinks the sound 'KILL' in a name isn't particularly nice?
Peaky Blinders, sharp cheekbones, blue eyes. That’s why.
DacwMamYnDwad · 09/08/2021 12:04

@TatianaBis, Ioan isn't the welsh version of Ewan, but Iwan might be.

@EmbarrassingMama, Peaky Blinders

EmbarrassingMama · 09/08/2021 11:05

Why is Cillian so popular? Am I the only person who thinks the sound 'KILL' in a name isn't particularly nice?

TatianaBis · 08/08/2021 19:31

He'll get OH-sheen in the UK though, which would annoy me.

In the U.K. he will get O as in clock - shun.

TatianaBis · 08/08/2021 19:29

Oisin is one of my favourite names.
Ciliian - is the new Liam
Connell - like

Dislike Ewan as very 80s. I like the Welsh version Ioan though.

sarah13xx · 08/08/2021 05:22

Love Ewan and Connell. We live in scotland and sometimes Connell sounds like the slang way of saying candle so that put me off it for our little one 🙈 I loved it from normal people though! Ewan was in my shortlist

motherofoisin · 07/08/2021 20:44

I have an Oisín, living in Northern Ireland and so far I've had no issues, i gave him an easy/well known middle name so if he really hates Oisín when he's older he can use his middle name instead.

Also someone told me that every Oisín they know uses the nickname Ozzy Confused not entirely sure how I feel about ozzy but something to consider

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/08/2021 20:20

Oisin is nice and Connell/Conal is okay. I'm not keen on sound of the others, sorry.

DramaAlpaca · 07/08/2021 18:34

My God, some people are so bloody ignorant about Irish names Angry

@coffeewithmilk all your names are great, I like all of them. However, this thread shows very clearly what you'll be up against in the UK if you choose an Irish name.

Rehgarding your pronunciation of Caolann, to me it should be KEE-lun, not KAY-linn.

Also, Oisín needs the fada to get the ush-EEN pronunciation. He'll get OH-sheen in the UK though, which would annoy me.

I much prefer Conal to Connell, it's the usual spelling of the first name.

Cookiebox · 07/08/2021 18:25

Osian is the best by a mile

storkstalk · 07/08/2021 16:35

Cillian and Connell are my favourite

Yellowmoons · 07/08/2021 16:34
  • Ewan - like it
-Caolann (pronounced kay-linn) - not keen, sounds quite feminine to me
  • Cillian - like it
  • Connell - nope
  • Oisin - nope

I really like Finn / Finley, though it's very popular. Also love Fraser. How about Aidan?

DinosaurDiana · 07/08/2021 13:51

Caolann looks like Carol Ann to me. I’d assume it’s female.
I like Ewan spell Euan or Owain.