Kaelen - suitable for both boys and girls?

[KellyCZ]

Hello :-)

I'm 15 + 3 so don't know baby's sex yet. I love this name for a boy (wanted something gaelic). I can't find anything I like as much as this for a girl. It seems quite unisex to me...could I use it either way?

Is it a real name?

Yes, well Caelan is a real name anyway. It's the gaelic form of Nicolas. I love it, but a boys' name, definitely.

I like the original spelling for a boy, it's lovely. The adding of a K is a bit random, I'm not a fan of made-up sounding names.

:( I found it on some baby name websites, I didn't make it up.

I wouldn't want people to see the name and assume the child was a boy if it were a girl.

Caoilinn is a girl's name (pronounced Keelin). I haven't heard Caelen/Kaelen.

I have a younger (boy) cousin called Caelan and a teenage (boy) cousin called Keelan. I would. therefore, assume it is boy's name.

either way, don't spell it with a K

I do know a boy called Keelan, so I personally would assume a boy.
Also it's the kind of name no-one would ever ever be quite sure how to spell, as someone with a perfectly simple complicated name, i can tell you how annoying I find it!

If you want an Irish name this is a good site www.babynamesofireland.com/ - it also has audio of the pronounciations.

no one is ever sure how to spell Jane/Jayne, assorted Catherines, Sarah/Sara....

spell it with a C and it's lovely - spell it with a K and it will look as if you can't spell or made it up or have no idea about where the name originates from

Fair point soupdragon, though the little boy I know was introduced to my dad, who misheard the explanation that it was gaelic, and has called the poor child Garlic ever since....

Lol@garlic :o

Ok so it's a boy's name only. Very grateful for that feedback as really wasn't sure, never having met/heard of anyone of that name. Mmm yes i was concerned about the spelling issue. Very valid point. I'm also having difficulty because one side of baby's family will be Spanish and Brazilian and other side English. Finding something that won't confuse and get pronounced differently by each side is hard!

And thank you for the link ritamorgan :)

Good luck finding something that crosses all those cultures

Maybe I'll go for Bob. Not much room for manoeuvre there.

It looks like a girls' name with the K. I'm not a fan of boys' names with random Ks. Caelen is quite nice though.

Caelan with an a before the n is the traditional spelling I believe! Was going to be DC2s name (DH permitting), but DC2 turned out to be a DD!

Caolán is the traditional male spelling and I know two! I also know a male Keelan, although he's aware it's a girls' name (we're in Ireland) and makes a joke out of it! Caoilfhionn would be the right spelling for a girl, and is keel-in/kweel-in rather than kay-lan/kay-lon like the first.

My goodness. Poor baby already has 15 letters (7 syllables) in surname so Caoilfhionn, though beautiful, might be a bit unfair! And first surname starts Ca. Wish I'd married a Smith!

7 syllables?! Blimey!

Yes, go for Bob!

I know a boy and a girl named that.
Caolan for the boy and Keelin for the girl.

I know a Kaylen, female but not from the UK,

If half of the family is Spanish/Brazilian, I'd be wary of using a difficult-to-spell-and-pronounce Gaelic name. Wouldn't it be better to choose something that works well across the cultures in both sides of the family?