I didn't think this name would be so unpopular

[spookybitches]

So all throughout my pregnancy, my husband and I kept our baby name choices to ourselves. My baby is now 2 months old, and nearly everyone we have met or spoken to, have mispronounced it. Granted, we haven't seen many people over the last few weeks, so now I'm starting to wonder if it's just my family or if it's really so unheard of?
My baby boy is called Cillian (DH Irish). My whole family pronounce it silly-an even when I've corrected them numerous times.
Can I ask if you would know how to pronounce Cillian? I'm worried I've set him up for a lifetime correcting people.

It's a great name. But then, I'm Irish, lived in England 21 years though. . Never fail to feel perplexed by the English inability to pronounce ANY foreign language names, even after repeated verbal examples.

Modern languages seem to be very optional in England, in Ireland many third level courses demand English,Irish and a European language at leaving cert level, not just for arts subjects.

I'd pronounce Sillian, I even though Cillian Murphy was like that! But once I was told the first time how to do it properly, I wouldn't forget.

I'd have got it wrong, sorry OP, in my defence, Australia has bat shit boring names, use many short versions of names or simply "oi mate" we lazy with names
But once corrected, I'd do my best to remember the proper way.

Would know it was Kill-ee-an, but there will be people who won’t know this... but I went through life with people mispronouncing my maiden name.... it’s no biggie. He’ll be fine, and I also think it’s a lovely name :)
You’ll still worry though, it comes with the job description, unfortunately... as a parent you will worry about lots of things... perfectly normal, if really irritating:) Good luck and enjoy your little one x

Kill-ee-an because of Cillian Murphy, gorgeous man that he is. How can people not know about him?!

I love that name, and thanks to Cillian Murphy quite a lot of people know how to pronounce it. It's not obvious that it's a hard c, so yes he will get lots of mispronunciation. But it's a heck of a lot easier than a lot of Irish names, and those seem to be very popular right now. Stick with it and everyone will get the hang of it. I think it's nice to have a name that's unusual but not freakish. Don't let the relatives get to you!

I've heard of Cillian Murphy but I've only ever seen his name written down, never heard anyone say it, never seen him on TV, so I would have assumed Sillian (like Gillian).

An former work colleague is Irish and he called his son Cillian, its pronounced Killian, alot of Irish names are tricky to pronounce because of how they are spelt. I know 2 girls called Niamh and Roisin (pronounced Neave and Rosheen), all beautiful names though.

silly un

Should have used K instead xx

Should have used K instead

Why change from the proper spelling just because some idiots are unable to remember how it's pronounced? It's not a difficult name.

Should have used K instead

As has already been explained on the thread, it's an Irish name and there is no K in Irish, so no they shouldn't.

As others have said, he will spend his life explaining his name through everything. School, doctors, hospital employment and anything else he goes into. He'll need to be sure that the spelling is correct to prevent mix ups. Be prepared for it to be shortened by schoolmates and a bit of teasing. You might find its changed to Ian. Also your family are being a bit nasty, it's not hard to get the hang of. They may well shorten it. When you choose an unusual name expect problems and changes. I work in the nhs and a lot of staff adapt their names to make it easier and quicker for others to get the hang of.

I had several friends from Hong Kong in uni. Each had chosen an English name upon starting primary school- think Tracy or Henry- and went by their English names primarily at university. I once asked one of them why they even had an English name. The response was that the English would not be able to correctly pronounce their actual names. At the time I thought that was a bit much- surely it's not that difficult to learn how to pronounce a name, even if it doesn't look like it sounds?

Nowadays... well... I see their point.

Shortening Cillian to Ian 😂😂😂😂 . Peak Mumsnet.
OP, I have a Cillian and while it is annoying to correct mispronunciations, it’s a beautiful name and I’m very glad I chose it. He is (well was) at school and has never been teased about his name. The kind of people who find this name difficult will find difficulties everywhere.

What a lovely name congratulations!

You might find its changed to Ian and They may well shorten it. - What is this obsession with some english people in shortening names? Sure, lots of people in Ireland use abbreviations or variants of their name but it would be unusual for someone to shorten a name to some random, made up variant, on someone else's behalf. And if they did, they would be corrected pretty quickly.

I always thought it was silly-un and I've heard lots of people introduce Cillian Murphy as that - he must be bored of correcting them too.

My cousin is called Brian, I wonder why we never shortened it to Ian. Perhaps because his parents would have called him Ian if they liked that name.
We never shortened my cousin Patrick's name to Ricky either.

He'll need to be sure that the spelling is correct to prevent mix ups. Be prepared for it to be shortened by schoolmates and a bit of teasing

Jesus H Christ.

Killian not sillyan

He'll need to be sure that the spelling is correct to prevent mix ups

Like Katherine/Katharine/Catherine/Catharine?

I'm Scottish highlands . It's not looking for problems anywhere. It's just experience. Both my brothers and I, have had our names shortened by family and others. All of us have to correct people in terms of spelling and pronunciation. One of my colleagues is in her 60's and is still spelling out and explaining her name, she's shortened it and hated it at school. As I say it's the child that has to carry the name and consideration to that needs to be given.

Sill-EE-Ann. Like Gillian? But if you tell people they should say it correctly once they know. Tbh I never know how to pronounce Gaelic names like Saoirse until I hear them. If I read them I kind of mumble them. Wish I knew what the rule was!