Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Help/ name doubt

28 replies

Babyboyno2 · 31/10/2024 22:05

I love the name Callan. I’ve been set on it for awhile now, however just heard Cuan. What do you prefer out of them?
Callan (Cal-an)
Cuan (Coo-an

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
stanleypops66 · 01/11/2024 12:37

I love the name Cuan (can't do fadas, though I've seen it with and without. It's a nice and simple name.

ChocolateCornflake · 01/11/2024 11:51

TheRutshireWI · 01/11/2024 10:52

I thought Cuàn was pronounce coo awn like lawn. I think it would problematic with pronunciation.

Callan will be misheard as Callum

I’m Irish it’s either Cúán, with two fadas which means little hound (Cuan could be thought of as an anglicised spelling /pronunciation of this as people do often leave out fadas, eg Sean rather than Seán)

OR

Cuan, which means harbour or haven or curved/bowed/stooped.

I’m not sure it comes with one fada in modern Irish? Cuán meant litter in Old/Middle Irish but that’s spelt cuain now. I don’t know about Scottish Gaelic though.

Cúán is Coo-awn where I am, but that does vary depending on dialect, á doesn’t give you that aw sound in Ulster Irish.
Cuan is Cooan more or less, can vary a little with dialect.

www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/cuan

Needmorelego · 01/11/2024 11:01

@Babyboyno2 Callan and Callum almost sound exactly the same to me - if said out loud.
Surprised you like one but not the other.

Original poster
Babyboyno2 · 01/11/2024 11:00

is a name being misheard for another really a problem as once corrected it would be sorted and any close will know. I have a basic name and I’ve still been called something else due to peoples lack of attention

OP posts:
Original poster
Babyboyno2 · 01/11/2024 10:58

@TheRutshireWI depends on were fada is placed changes the pronunciation..

OP posts:
Original poster
Babyboyno2 · 01/11/2024 10:57

@Needmorelego dont want James as first name. And it’s just an option atm. I also don’t like Callum

OP posts:
TheRutshireWI · 01/11/2024 10:52

I thought Cuàn was pronounce coo awn like lawn. I think it would problematic with pronunciation.

Callan will be misheard as Callum

ChocolateCornflake · 01/11/2024 10:47

Isn't Cuan supposed to be pronounced Kee-an?
No, that’s Cian, @KnickerlessParsons.

Needmorelego · 01/11/2024 10:30

Why James for the middle name?
Use that for the first name.
Or go for Callum - which is what most people will think you've said if you say Callan.
Cuan I'm not a fan. Sorry.

KnickerlessParsons · 01/11/2024 10:29

Isn't Cuan supposed to be pronounced Kee-an?

I'm also not keen on either, sorry. I like Callum though.

WaltzingWaters · 01/11/2024 10:27

Callan

ChocolateCornflake · 01/11/2024 10:23

Callan has a better short form (Cal). Cuan has a lovely soft sound though. I do know one but I’ve never met a Callan.

user1492757084 · 01/11/2024 09:45

I prefer Colin.

Original poster
Babyboyno2 · 01/11/2024 09:02

Thanks , know Callan mightn’t be to everyone’s taste but I think it’s nicer than Callum and abit different but not to out there

OP posts:
WhatASadLittleLifeJayne · 01/11/2024 08:06

Callan for sure. For some reason, for me, it’s such a different vibe to both Callum and Allan! Which is a good thing 😄

Don’t like the sound or look of Cuan personally. Also people might say it to rhyme with Juan.

Sk1sk0 · 01/11/2024 08:04

Callan x

Firsttimebabymummy · 01/11/2024 06:16

I prefer Callan, although it's not a name I'd use. I prefer to Callum too.

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 31/10/2024 23:24

I think I prefer Callan out of the two but I think a lot of people will mishear/misspell it as Calum.

I don't dislike Cuan, as a collection of sounds, but I'm wondering if there are any other ways of spelling it because I would have guessed this spelling was pronounced Queue-an, and I I can make that mistake, others can.

Hohofortherobbers · 31/10/2024 22:58

Prefer Callum

Moreteaandchocolate · 31/10/2024 22:32

Callan is my favourite - great name and I love the nn Cal. Not keen on Cuan - sounds like a mash up of Euan and Cian (both of which are nice!)

Original poster
Babyboyno2 · 31/10/2024 22:17

@Stephanie2018 I was maybe thinking James for a middle name. I love Charlie for a little girl always have

OP posts:
MagdaLenor · 31/10/2024 22:15

I've never heard of Cuan, I don't particularly like it.
Callan is ok, but I misread it as Callum, I don't know if that would be a problem.
Cian is nice 👍

lilacpeach · 31/10/2024 22:15

Callan for sure, not mad about Cuan

Scutterbug · 31/10/2024 22:13

Call an is better than Cuan but I’m not really keen on either x

Stephanie2018 · 31/10/2024 22:13

@Babyboyno2 I really like james or Oliver! Charlie is also cute!