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.

I would have said silly ann too!! People dont know how to say it so keep reminding them.

I know the name. Lovely name.

Yep I'm another that would have said Silly-Ann.

I would have gone with a soft C, but once corrected would hopefully get it right especially if close family member.

I’m Irish so I know how to pronounce it. I think it’s lovely. It’s also becoming quite popular in England - I know of 2 born recently in London. People will get more familiar with it. My friend had a Niamh 8 years ago and at the start people in England didn’t know how to say it but it’s such a common name now most do.

No, because not all languages pronounce things the same way as English. There isn't even a K in the the Irish alphabet.

I didn't know that ....And our Grandfather only spoke Gaelic -from Scottish Highlands..He'd be ashamed of me :)

I've never seen or heard this name before. I too thought it was Silly-An.
Same as Gillian, but with an S or like
Cilia - a medical term. Tiny, hairline projections from certain cells!

Its rude though if family have heard they way you want it pronounced, yet still say it differently.

Killian.

I worked with a Kil-lian (Cillian) many years ago so I would pronounce it with the K sound. I have a dd with an Irish name and people do learn how to say it and I am often asked " how do you say it" when people see it written down. I perfectly fine with explaining.

The name is not an issue it's a great name IMO. Your issue is your family. Personally I would go with a firm" please stop that joke now I have had enough of it and I don't find it funny" when they respond the inevitable "it's only a joke" respond " it is only a joke if everyone finds it funny and I just told you I didn't so please stop"

Lovely name, I have three kids with much more obscure Irish names and live outside of Ireland. Sorry to say it, but your family are being hateful. It's not hard.

Great name OP - I know how to pronounce it as DH is Irish (we live in England) and it was on our boys list. We went for Conor in the end for simplicity!

One of my absolute favourite names!

Sympathies OP, I also gave DD a name that I assumed everyone knew how to pronounce. Apparently not. Friends and family remember it soon enough, it’s annoying having to constantly correct strangers though so I do feel bad that DD will have a lifetime of it.

As with others Kill-e-un, like Cillian Murphy

I'd guess at silly but I'd bloody remember it was killy after one telling. It's a lovely name.

I would pronounce it Kill-ian because of Once Upon a Time. but before I'd heard of the name silly-an probably 😳

I’d say Kill e ann

@oakleaffy - I didn't know that blush....And our Grandfather only spoke Gaelic -from Scottish Highlands..He'd be ashamed of me smile

I don’t know the Scottish alphabet but as the language is very similar to Irish, it’s possible there’s no K in Scots Gaelic too.

Kill-e-an

Cillian Murphy, the actor.

www.babynamesofireland.com/cillian

I would have known, but I'm half Irish.

The UK is a multicultural country, and people are entirely capable of learning how to pronounce names not immediately familiar to them. Don't worry about it. It's a really nice name, and very appropriate for a baby who is half Irish. Your family will just have to adjust.

To add - Cillian is a lovely name and I do know how to pronounce it

It’s killi un to me. A lovely name, my friends little boy called it. Can’t see why they would pronounce it Sillyun

Kill - ee - ann but also Welsh so used to the hard C

I think it’s a lovely name, I’m Irish so I know it..

I know someone through an old parenting site who has a Cillian and for about 10 years I read 'silly - an' it wasn't until someone new asked how it was pronounced and she said 'killy - an' that I knew how to say it properly. Thankfully I didn't meet up with her