Lian for a boy?

[walnutwhippys]

Pronounced like Liam - but Lian???

Just saw it it in a list while I was browsing and I think I like it. Worried it will be mistaken for "Leanne"

What do you think?

Sorry, I think it's awful.

I'd assume it was a mis-spelling for Liam. Or else a stupid way to spell Leanne.

It will be mistaken for Liam or Ian at almost every opportunity and it looks feminine, so will get people saying 'Lee-Anne?'

I would assume it was Liam if I heard it. He will always have to explain it.

It is also far too like Ian or Leanne (which is a girl's name to me).

Why not just call him Liam. It will save a lot of hassle.

No one’s going to look at “Lian” and know that it’s supposed to be pronounced “Liam”.

They’re either going to guess at Lee-Anne, or assume that Lian is a typo for Liam.

I’d stick with the usual Liam spelling personally.

@SixDegrees

No one’s going to look at “Lian” and know that it’s supposed to be pronounced “Liam”.

They’re either going to guess at Lee-Anne, or assume that Lian is a typo for Liam.

I’d stick with the usual Liam spelling personally.

That's not what the OP meant -- I think she meant it's pronounced like Liam, but with an 'n' rather than an 'm' at the end.

It is a name used in Ireland, though not commonly, and I think even here you would have people mishearing it as Liam. I wouldn't, OP.

I’d go for Leon which is almost the same but actually a name

Yes, there are lots of actual names to choose from that would be similar - Leon, Liam, Ian. Why saddle your child with a name that he would constantly have to correct and explain?

I know a Kian sounds similar

No, he will spend his whole life saying "no, Lian not Liam, it's got an n on the end"

No, L. I. A. Emmmmmm

No, not leeannnn,

It's a no from me.

Yes so it should rhyme with 'Liam' but you do pronounce the 'n' :)

There's nothing wrong with the name Liam, but it's quite commonly used. I like something not too crazy, but not over used.

How about Cillian / Killian with Lian as a NN?

Lane? Might not be as tricky and sounds the same.

@paralysedbyinertia

Yes, there are lots of actual names to choose from that would be similar - Leon, Liam, Ian. Why saddle your child with a name that he would constantly have to correct and explain?

There are many places in England, diverse communities, where kids don't feel saddled with a name that is not generic. The other kids aren't dicks. They learn a name and how to pronounce it. It's quite simple.

Cillian is quite nice, becoming more popular since peaky blinders I think?!

I really like Lane, not sure I could convince DH though. Then again, I haven't suggested Lian yet

I assumed that you had mistyped Liam in the thread title.

How about Leander as an alternative?

I’d hear Liam or Ian. Sorry.

Cillian is better.

If someone introduced me to Lian I'd assume it was Liam. If you like the sound of it I would just choose Liam as it's so similar.

Or like the above poster suggested, choose Cillian and use Lian as a nickname. I would be surprised if Cillian is more popular now than years ago as I went to school with a few Cillians and have never heard the name on a child since, although I realise this will change by region.

I would assume it was either 1) a Chinese girls name (pretty sure I knew a female Lian once) 2) a typo for Liam 3) a 'unique' spelling for Leanne.

I actually think names that can be confused for something else more common are worse than entirely made up sounds because people spend their whole lives correcting people who have misheard.

Leon is nice, Cillian is nice, Cian is nice... I'd just stay away from Lian personally as I think it opens up too much confusion.

The only Lian I know is female and pronounced Leanne. I like the previous suggestion of Cillian.

I have known Cillians shortened to Lian.
I like it. It only sounds weird because people aren't used to it, once people have heard it a few times they won't think anything of it.

Once met a Swedish kid called lian about 7 years ago, his parents put letters from both their first names together to come up with it

No to Lian for me - too close to Leanne. Liam is okay though.

How about Leal, if you want something different? (Old Anglo/French/Latin name meaning loyal).

Liam, Ian or Leon are all nice.