Ciara / Kira / Keira?

breakfastdinnerandtea · 2025-04-30T14:07:03+00:00

Just wondering on the general opinion of this name and which spelling people prefer. DH isn’t bothered about spelling, I’m not keen on Keira but don’t mind the other two. Thanks all!

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ThornyThing · 07/05/2025 19:29

Keira is my name (I’m also Irish) and my parents chose it from a name book published in the 1970s, so it was a recognised spelling long before Keira Knightley’s dad apparently spelled it wrong on her birth certificate…

I know it’s not the original spelling but it’s feckin weird seeing lots of people saying my name (which I’ve had for well over 40 years) is ‘wrong’. 😂😜

Pick whichever one you prefer, OP!

ArminTamzerian · 07/05/2025 18:43

DoYouReally · 07/05/2025 18:08

I like the name but Ciara is the traditional Irish spelling and it's pronounced key-ra.

If you aren't Irish, I wouldn't use it as you will forever have idiots producing it like Sierra.

It isn't. It's more like keer-rah

DoYouReally · 07/05/2025 18:08

I like the name but Ciara is the traditional Irish spelling and it's pronounced key-ra.

If you aren't Irish, I wouldn't use it as you will forever have idiots producing it like Sierra.

user1492757084 · 01/05/2025 14:34

The name is not a fave for either of you so don't use it, Op.

You have used your favourite girl name so you could let DH make a list of his favourite ten; you choose one from that.

Suggestions ..
Claire
Cleo
Camilla
Kate
Vreni - pronounced Vraynie
Elsie

His faves might be sweet.

GreyhoundGal1 · 01/05/2025 09:00

breakfastdinnerandtea · 30/04/2025 18:45

It’s not that we can’t find a favourite. It’s that we can’t find a favourite that is both our favourite.
I already have a daughter (DHs stepdaughter) and her name is my favourite. Other names just aren’t coming close.

Show quote history

I definitely believe this because my husband is super fussy! I had a friend at uni called Ciara and everyone knew how to pronounce it just fine so use that spelling if it's your favourite. My niece is also the anglicised version and no one has questioned if she has Irish heritage (she doesn't). Lots of Maeves without Irish heritage around.

I guess you've gone through other similar sounding options if it's not your favourite: Camille, Cora, Cara, Claudia, Cordelia, Callie, Erica, Caroline.

Or trying to think of ones that might be a mix of your styles; Quinn, Elowen, Harper, Audrey, Adeline, Adelaide, Adele, Erin, Sadie, Saskia.

mathanxiety · 30/04/2025 23:30

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/04/2025 22:43

Yes, I didn’t realise Ciara was Irish so was trying to make phonetic sense of it in English, ia usually makes two vowel sounds in English words and names (eg: Mia, Amelia, Diana, Lillian) which is why I thought it would be Ci-a-ruh and pronounced with 3 syllables rather than the 2 of Keira.

Show quote history

You were right - that IA in Irish is always sounded. It's only very slightly audible in 'Ciara' and most other instances, and the A is usually pronounced as a schwa (neutral vowel).

mathanxiety · 30/04/2025 23:28

WeAreAllBucked · 30/04/2025 22:51

There is no pronunciation differences with the different spellings. It’s an Irish thing you can’t sound out Siobhan or Niamh. They are just Irish names and that’s how it goes.
Ciara is pronounced Kear-uh

Show quote history

Well actually, you do sound them out. You use the letter/ sound correspondence of the Irish language, which is very regular from a phonic pov.

RandomWordsThrownTogether · 30/04/2025 23:24

I prefer Ciara but in saying that I would not give a child an Irish name if she has no Irish heritage, I constantly get asked about the origins of my name and my child's name so it could be embarrassing to have a name that she has no links and is disconnected from - she’ll have people asking if her parents/grandparents are Irish and then an awkward silence when she says there is no link. I would go with Kier if any. Personally I would choose a name that has a meaning behind it or a link that is personal to you! I love telling people why I chose my kids name, the meaning behind it etc…

Rockmehardplace · 30/04/2025 22:57

Lovely name you don't hear that often

I'd go for Ciara.

WeAreAllBucked · 30/04/2025 22:51

Alarae · 30/04/2025 15:47

What pronunciation are you going for as I would pronounce Ciara (See-air-uh) differently to Kira/Keira (Kear-uh).

I probably wouldn’t go for Kira as I’m pretty sure it means Killer in Japanese, or at least had that meaning thanks to Death Note (famous manga novel about someone killing people).

There is no pronunciation differences with the different spellings. It’s an Irish thing you can’t sound out Siobhan or Niamh. They are just Irish names and that’s how it goes.
Ciara is pronounced Kear-uh

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/04/2025 22:43

Needspaceforlego · 30/04/2025 22:23

@MolkosTeenageAngst totally agree it can be hard. It doesn't help that the English language is inconsistent too then throw in its really an Irish name

Celtic languages only ever have a hard C like calm never a soft c like certain. Those who weren't really taught phonics don't always notice.

Yes, I didn’t realise Ciara was Irish so was trying to make phonetic sense of it in English, ia usually makes two vowel sounds in English words and names (eg: Mia, Amelia, Diana, Lillian) which is why I thought it would be Ci-a-ruh and pronounced with 3 syllables rather than the 2 of Keira.

PrincessOfPreschool · 30/04/2025 22:28

Clara is lovely, v elegant!

Needspaceforlego · 30/04/2025 22:23

@MolkosTeenageAngst totally agree it can be hard. It doesn't help that the English language is inconsistent too then throw in its really an Irish name

Celtic languages only ever have a hard C like calm never a soft c like certain. Those who weren't really taught phonics don't always notice.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/04/2025 20:47

ArminTamzerian · 30/04/2025 20:44

You're pronouncing Ciara wrong.

It's not that hard. Kira, Keira, Ciara....all the same. It's really easy

Show quote history

It can actually be hard to know how to pronounce a name when you’ve never met anybody with the name before or heard it said out loud! Obviously I know how it’s said now and agree it will be easy to remember how it’s said and I did acknowledge that I recognised how I’d pronounce them probably wasn’t right, that’s just how I’d say them based on seeing them written.

ArminTamzerian · 30/04/2025 20:44

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/04/2025 15:49

I would pronounce Ciara, Kira and Keira differently, although from this thread it seems maybe that wouldn’t be right!

Ciara: Key-are-uh
Kira: Ki-ruh (Ki like the start of kitten)
Keira: Keyr-uh (Keyr like Keir Starmer)

I’ve never met a Ciara or a Kira and really dislike Keira, for want of a better description it was a bit of a ‘rough girl’ name when I was at school in 90s/00s, there were a few girls with the name and they tended to be bullies and troublemakers. I haven’t met a nice girl with the name, although fully appreciate that’s probably not true everywhere; Keira Knightly seems like she’d be nice enough.

You're pronouncing Ciara wrong.

It's not that hard. Kira, Keira, Ciara....all the same. It's really easy

Irie1980 · 30/04/2025 20:38

Ciara

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 30/04/2025 19:58

Ciara

It’s just much prettier, as well as being proper

The main alternative spelling used to be Kiera, till Keira K’s dad spelt it wrong on her BC

Needspaceforlego · 30/04/2025 18:49

Ciara.
I think if your going to use an Irish name use the original spelling. And I'm a Scot not Irish

Original poster

breakfastdinnerandtea · 30/04/2025 18:46

Moreteaandchocolate · 30/04/2025 17:29

Do you like - Thea, Mila, Lila, Cleo, Eva, Nia, Seren, Kaia, Seren, Lena, Indi?

Show quote history

I like Lila and Seren, and I like Indie as a nickname, but DH doesn’t.

OP posts:

Original poster

breakfastdinnerandtea · 30/04/2025 18:45

Catnapsallday · 30/04/2025 17:44

Where I'm from Ciara is always pronounced, as Kee-ar-rah.
Very pretty name, btw, however I have a hard time believing that one would have to settle for a name that is not really a favourite when there are hundreds of names to choose from!

It’s not that we can’t find a favourite. It’s that we can’t find a favourite that is both our favourite.
I already have a daughter (DHs stepdaughter) and her name is my favourite. Other names just aren’t coming close.

OP posts:

Imustgetupsoon · 30/04/2025 18:16

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/04/2025 18:12

@breakfastdinnerandtea there are plenty of non-Irish teenagers called Niamh in DS' age group. It was probably the most common name in our Yorkshire baby group 17 years ago.

They’re probably pronouncing it wrong though 😉

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/04/2025 18:12

@breakfastdinnerandtea there are plenty of non-Irish teenagers called Niamh in DS' age group. It was probably the most common name in our Yorkshire baby group 17 years ago.

CurlewKate · 30/04/2025 18:12

Caoimhe

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/04/2025 18:09

Ciara is the Irish spelling
Kiera is the anglicisation
Keira, as in Knightley, is wrong.

RipleyJones · 30/04/2025 17:54

I like the Italian name. It’s softer than any English / Irish version.

‘Chiara is a girl's name of Italian origin, inspired by the Latin Clara. Simply meaning "bright" and "luminous," use this sunny name as a constant reminder of baby's smile, her future, or any number of things that bring joy to this new little light in the world.‘