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Baby names

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

Original poster

Kieran or Keelan

88 replies

Babybatman · 05/02/2020 12:45

Which do you prefer? Please don't say you hate both as I'm 39 weeks and finding this naming business very hard. These aren't my favourite names but they are the only ones we both like as we have polar opposite taste.

Baby will be half Irish and although we both like the Irish spellings Caolan and Ciaran we both want to for the spelling most likely to get pronounced correctly in England where he will grow up.
Also do you think either will get nicknames/shortened? I don't think so but would be interested to hear thoughts. Thanks!

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Stressheadme123 · 05/02/2020 13:34

I’ve never heard of Keenan and I’m not keen so I would pick Kieran.

Other similar ideas could be Keir, Kerr, Cian Caelan?

Stressheadme123 · 05/02/2020 13:34

Never heard of keelan *

alifeintheday · 05/02/2020 13:43

I like Keelan. It would be fairly popular in Ireland for a boy as far as I'm aware. They sometimes use Keelin/Caoilin for a girl!

Shayisgreat · 05/02/2020 13:52

I like both names. Prefer the Irish spelling of both (but I'm Irish so a bit biased) Ciaran was on my list of names for DS so Kieran would be my vote!

Shayisgreat · 05/02/2020 13:55

Oh and my baby is half Irish in England and my husband agreed to an Irish name as long as he could pronounce it first time he read it. Same as you he didn't want DS to have difficulty here because of it.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 05/02/2020 13:56

Sorry Keelan reminds me of the name of a pair of obstetric forceps
Kieran is lovely

Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 13:57

Thanks for the opinions. I really like Keir but I thought it was Scottish whereas I thought Kieran/Ciaran is both Scottish and Irish? I could be completely wrong on that though, if so that could be a contender!

DH not keen on Caelan as he thinks the spelling looks made up. I actually really like it!
I hadn't personally heard of Keelan either until I met one of DH's distant relations who is an 18 year old one. He really made me warm to the name.

OP posts:
Shayisgreat · 05/02/2020 13:57

Sorry for spamming - didn't read the OP properly. My cousin is called Ciaran and it's shortened to Ciari (Keery) but that's fairly unusual. Have never heard Keelan being shortened.

MinecraftMother · 05/02/2020 13:59

Was the 18 yr old you met in NI?

'Caolann' is the correct spelling of that name.

Both are lovely.

Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 14:00

@Shayisgreat yeah that's how we both feel about an Irish name. Our first son has an easy to pronounce/spell Irish name and he is a really self conscious little thing so I'm glad we went for the easier spelling over here. If we lived in Ireland I would go for the Irish spellings.

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Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 14:01

The 18 year old one is from Southern Ireland.

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 05/02/2020 14:03

Kieran at a push, both a bit down market.

Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 14:05

Not interested in snobby comments.

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LizzieAnt · 05/02/2020 14:29

I prefer Kieran. Ciarán would be my preference actually but I see what you mean about living in England. I haven't come across Keelan for a boy before, though I know some girl Caoilfhionn/Keelins. I just think if I heard the name I'd automatically assume it was a girl. Sorry. That mightn't be such a problem as you're living abroad though. Most people wouldn't have the Keelin = girl preconception. What about Cian, sometimes spelt Kian? A similar sound (Kee-an), but definitely a boy. I don't like the K for a C substitution usually, but there's certainly precedence. I haven't really heard nicknames for any of those names. Congratulations too and wishing you all the best.

myplateisfullenoughthanks · 05/02/2020 14:35

Kieran is nice I think. Keelan sounds a bit 'made up' IMO

LizzieAnt · 05/02/2020 14:37

Actually, sometimes people pronounce Cian as Keen though, so that might be a problem.....

Whatsyourflava · 05/02/2020 14:39

The poshest little boy I know is called Keiran

Not downmarket to my ears

Lovely name

blossomberry · 05/02/2020 14:39

I really love Kieran! I knew a gorgeous little boy with this name and have liked it ever since.

Whatsyourflava · 05/02/2020 14:40

Slight preference for Keelan though 🥰😍🥰

Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 14:59

Thanks for all the opinions. Keep 'em coming.
Kieran seems to be more popular. I have mentioned Keelan to a few friends that hadn't heard of it so I wonder it maybe it would grow on people.
Thanks for the suggestions @lizzieAnt, we have toyed with Cian, but it sounds harsher to my ears for some reason than Keelan, I think I quite like the 'l' or 'r' in both names that soften it a bit.

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needasleep · 05/02/2020 15:01

What about Keigan? It is similar to the names u have picked, also my nephew's name we live in Scotland and have Irish family

eggandonion · 05/02/2020 15:03

I know a 23 year old Kealan, far south of Ireland, with that spelling.

Skinnydecafflatte · 05/02/2020 15:05

Kieran! I know two gorgeous boys one is Keiran and the other Kieran, confusingly to remember which one is spelt which way. They are both super cute so it makes me like the name more!

Original poster
Babybatman · 05/02/2020 15:25

Hadn't seen the Kealan spelling. That's quite nice too!

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FluffyPinkSocks · 05/02/2020 15:30

I know loads of Keelans, Caolans and a great female Keelins. All ranging in age from 4 months to 45! It’s a lovely name.