Kieran or Keelan

[Babybatman]

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!

[Babybatman]

@fluffyPinkSocks lovely post thank you.
Out of interest are any of them shortened/nicknamed?

[FluffyPinkSocks]

No, they all just go by their proper name.

[Babybatman]

If anyone is still reading we are throwing Cillian into the mix.

[eggandonion]

My neighbour has a seven year old Cillian who is always smiling, and always helping his dad, washing cars, powerwashing, cutting hedges. Also Cillian Murphy's cousin works in a supermarket near me. Both Cillians use their full name!

[midwestfornow]

I really like Kieran as a Scot I hadn't realized that Irish names are often considered chavy in England until I moved there.
It is worth bearing in mind because some judgements will made.
I think I would be inclined to go for a more Irish rather than English spelling.

[Ashsummer]

user1493494961 how are they 'downmarket'?

I prefer kieran, I like the Irish spelling but might be tricky if you're in England x

[LynetteScavo]

I know a very lovely, kind, academic Keelan, as he's the only Keelan I've known I like the name.

Kieran isn't down market. The only working class Kieran I know goes to a super selective grammar school.

Just don't call your DS Kian

[Mincepieready]

I think Ciaran is sufficiently recognised and my preference over it with a K. I like Caolan/ Keelan though too. I think Ciaran is a wee bit more unusual for this generation.

I love Ciar too but it doesn't work with my surname. Killian is pretty widely used in the south (think there's a well known saint and school)and the K might be easier in the UK. I know of a little Cillian often initially pronounced as Cilla -n.

All are lovely and you won't go wrong.

Can I suggest Cormac too? Fits with your first wee boys name. Looks like it sounds.... It's my favourite and I can't use it!

Let us know what you pick!!

[Mincepieready]

Cilla n like Cilla black

[Mummyeyes]

I do like the spelling Caelan.
Also different name Ciallán.

[diddlediddle]

Kieran is lovely. Classy and works well internationally.

Keelan with the Irish spelling is ok but with a k honestly it has downmarket connotations in parts of the country - not being snobby, it's not necessarily my view, just trying to give you info that may help you choose.

Cillian is nice.

[Babybatman]

@Mincepieready thanks for your post. We have considered Cormac, but we seem to run into pronunciation issues there too. I automatically say Cor-Mack and DH says it should he Cor-M'c without the 'A' sound. He said it would drive him mad if it was always pronounced incorrectly. I haven't completely ruled it out though.

@diddlediddle thanks for your views, just wondering where are you based (roughly)? we are outskirts of London and I've never met one in the UK so I didn't think it would really have any connotations over here. Is it just becuse it has a K and is fairly unknown so sounds made up? Genuinely wondering as that's definitely the one we are leaning towards.

[missmouse101]

Kieran is SO much nicer!

[Astronica]

I much prefer Kieran.

[Freyanna]

Kieran

[LizzieAnt]

Your DH is right about the pronunciation of Cormac. There's more emphasis on the first syllable. If you try pronouncing an 'o' instead of an 'a' in the second syllable it might help? Love that name too. In the part of Ireland I'm in, it's a lot more mainstream than Keelan is for a boy. That probably doesn't make a difference as you're in the UK though

[Sockwomble]

I prefer kieran with the ciaran spelling. I've taught a few ciarans (England). All were known by their full names.

[Omashu]

I like Kieran a lot but I LOVE the spelling of Caolan so that one wins it for me! But only if it’s spelt Caolan.

[TurduckenFucken]

I really like Caolan, but only spelled properly. Keelan is getting into Neve territory I think. People live in England with names from all over the world, and manage to learn how to say and spell them.

Also love Cillian and Cormac. Not so keen on Kieran, but Ciarán is fine.

Conleth?

[Sulkypatsy]

My vote is for cillian, keelan is a girl's name to me, I know three female keelans never heard of it for a male. #irish, Dublin, Tipperary

[Babybatman]

God you are all confusing me . What is Neve territory??
Do you think Cillian will always get Silly-un?
Anyone with a Cillian in the UK that has had experience?

DH likes Kieran but said it just makes him think of second generation Irish painter decorators whatever that means 🙄
He said the name should he Ciarán and pronounced 'rawn' at the end to be legit but is fine with Keelan, which a lot of you seem to think is chavvy or girly or made up.
He wants Seamus! I've got 6 days people, help!

[TurduckenFucken]

Neve/Neeve/Neev = Niamh for people who feel the need to Anglicise. That's what Keelan is to me.

Seamus is fab. I know a few Ciaráns, and not all of them pronounce the end as 'awn', some do the more 'un' sounding ending.

[TurduckenFucken]

Surely since Peaky Blinders the pronunciation of Cillian is much more familiar in England? Do people really pronounce the C as an S to get silly 'un?

[VirtualHamster]

I think Ciaran spelling would probably be fine in the England, I think it's sufficiently well known

[Babybatman]

I am a huge peaky blinders fan and obsessed with Cillian Murphy so the pronunciation seems obvious to me, but not sure about the general population.

I actually like Seamus too but I've had such mixed reactions to it. People saying it's too stereotypically Irish and it's an old man name and a bit of a joke name etc.
I think our DS would have rocked Seamus. Big pink cheeks, curly blonde hair!