Nikhil or Kiran?

[WorldAtlasOfTea]

What do you think and why?

And, if you wouldn't mind answering my demographic question: how Indian are you? (I'm not at all; DH is by heritage/family. Interested to see if there is a difference of opinion between people exposed to Indian names and people not similarly exposed.)

Thanks!

I really like both of them. I'm white British (if that's what you meant? Sorry if it's not!), but have taught a Nikhil (he was lovely and very clever!).

Sorry, just reread your op, I'm not at all Indian! White British is just what I always tick on questionnaires when asked. :)

I like both of those.

I'm white British but have an Indian friend with a son called Nikhil, he gets called Niku.

I'm not Indian but I know an Indian woman called Kiran so I would think a female if I saw it written down.

I do like Nikhil actually. He can be Nik if he prefers which works well for English speakers.

I've only met female Kirans but I think they are both lovely

I like Kiran.

I like Kiran, less likely to be shortened than Nikhil.

I've only known female Kirans.
Both names are lovely
I'm white British.

Lovely names. I am boringly English ☺

I'm another who only met female Kirans. I like Nikhil. Easy to spell and pronounce

I like Kiran but as others have said, for me it's more a girl's name. Would you say it like Kee-ran or Kirr-an?

Nikhil sounds quite cool and edgy.

I'm not at all Indian.

I know a boy called Kiran. I like it.

Nikhil. I just prefer it to Kiran.

I'm not at all Indian.

I read Kiran as Kieran, and wondered why the interesting choice in names, hence opening the thread.

Not at all Indian and I like both but love Nikhil (embarrassingly because he's a character in Postman Pat which is DS's big obsession)

0% Indian, prefer Nikhil

I'm 50% Indian and those would be my top 2 names for a boy if it was only me choosing or if DH would let me! So lovely both of them. I love that they will be pronounced easily by everyone, and youd always have to spell an indian name out so dont think the spelling is an issue and think they're both really nice. Rishi is another of my faves. My 2 daughters are only 25% Indian and the youngest's middle name is Indian....so think the proportions are about fair

Oh sorry if I had to choose...Kiran is my personal fave. Know a lovely couple of Nikhils though.

South Indian here. Nikhil is well-known all over India while Kiran is confined to Delhi and the Punjab regions. I think

Both lovely names. Kiran might work if you are living in Britain as it bears a passing a resemblance to Kieran or Kieron...

I'm not at all Indian.
Indian friend has a Kiran. She says you don't say it the same as Kieron... but I can't tell the difference! I'd choose a name less like a bog standard English name. How does one say Nikhil? I imagine hil is like Heil as in Heil Hitler, which isn't good.

No great Mumsnet verdict, then!

I think we prefer the sound of Kiran, but it has drawbacks: spelling/pronunciation/similarity to Kieran, known as a female name (though ONS stats show more boys than girls in E&W).

Whereas Nikhil grabs us less, but also concerns us less iyswim. Though DH isn't keen on Nik/Nick (which I think is fairly inevitable), having worked with a problematic one.

golfmonkey, Rishi is comically similar to our surname. Not really a viable option!

Amrapaali we are British and living in England - in a pretty non-diverse area too. DH is of East African Gujarati descent, if that makes any difference to your opinion.

I know a little Indian boy called Kiran, pronounced Ky-run

lljkk Kiran is more like Mirren (as in Helen) - shorter i. Whereas Kieren I would pronounce Keir (as in Starmer or Hardie) -un.

Nikhil also has two shorter i's: Nick-ill.

Prefer nikhil though