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Baby names

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

Original poster

Cillian, Keelan or Caelan

58 replies

Babybatman · 06/02/2020 16:51

Me again! Sorry for more threads but I've narrowed it down to these three and in 6 days time you'll be rid of me Grin
Live in England, half Irish baby. These are the spellings we would use (not Caolan as I think it's too confusing here and I think Killian looks too much like 'Kill')
Cillian is pronounced Kill-ee-un
Caelan is pronounced Kay-lun
Keelan pronounced as written

Thanks and please be kind as we have really struggled to come to a middle ground on names.

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CurrynChips · 06/02/2020 20:42

Cillian or Caelan, both lovely names.

Original poster
Babybatman · 06/02/2020 20:42

Cilly is cute for a baby Smile

OP posts:
YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 06/02/2020 20:45

Cillian. Lovely name

Justathinslice · 06/02/2020 20:50

Keelan

I know one- he's not chavy, never been mistaken for a girl.....

Evanna13 · 06/02/2020 21:14

Cillian is the nicest, other two seem more made up.

AlpacaGoodnight · 06/02/2020 21:44

Cillian

Naomh · 06/02/2020 22:53

Agree with @LizzieAnt’s post on regional pronunciations of ‘Caol ’. I’d go for Cillian.

Naomh · 06/02/2020 22:56

If it’s the hard ‘c’ you like, Ciarán (or anglicised as Kieran), Cormac? Cathal? Conor? Colm?

Astronica · 06/02/2020 23:16

Cillian

DramaAlpaca · 06/02/2020 23:25

I also agree with the regional pronunciation of Caol, and would go for Cillian.

Focalpoint · 06/02/2020 23:37

I'd have thought Keelan is an anglicised version of Caoilfhionn which is a girls name.

Buttercup54321 · 06/02/2020 23:41

Kailan.

dayowl · 06/02/2020 23:43

Caelan

WardrobeJumper · 07/02/2020 06:49

Cillian

bitheby · 07/02/2020 06:59

Caelan for me definitely but I liked the Caol spelling. Anyone he has to spend lots of time with will learn how to say it.

user1483387154 · 07/02/2020 07:14

I teach several kilians. Nicknames are kili, kiki (keykey) and kicks. A lot use only full name.

Original poster
Babybatman · 07/02/2020 09:53

I think Cillian is the most popular on here. I'm slightly nervous about the Sill-ee-un issue but I don't think it's enough to put me off. Keelan is more straightforward but we really don't want people thinking we've just made up a name.
I'll be practicing saying Cillian over the next few days to see if it feels natural. I feel like it's the kind of name a teenager and man would love to have. It's kind of cool and different but still masculine.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 07/02/2020 17:19

I know a fabulous teenage Caelan and he doesn't have problems with people mispronouncing his name, so I'd go with that.

Original poster
Babybatman · 07/02/2020 20:37

It's nice to see some people liking Caelan. I really like but thought people might say it looks made up. I think it's cool. We are choosing between Cillian and Caelan now. I think Keelan is off the table.

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victoria0132 · 07/02/2020 20:57

Cillian but they're both nice options

Jennylou88 · 07/02/2020 23:23

We've got a cillian! Who is 4 months old. We spelt it Killian though and mostly call him Killie or Kit as his initials also spell Kit. We get loads of complements on it and I've not met any other Killians yet so it's not overused! Xxx

JollyGiraffe12 · 07/02/2020 23:44

Cillian

L0bstersLass · 08/02/2020 00:01

Cillian is a lovely, traditional name.

ThighThighofthigh · 08/02/2020 00:32

I know a baby Kailen, I thought it was made up. Maybe it is?

Original poster
Babybatman · 08/02/2020 08:12

@user1483387154 where are you based if you don't mind me asking? I haven't come across the 'Kilian' spelling.

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