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

Need reassurance on son's name

122 replies

Moodhasplummeted · 13/12/2022 22:22

I wouldn't normally do a post like this but I'm really struggling with my son's name and I just need a place to vent.
He is nearly 3 years old and there is nothing I can do about it now. We couldn't agree on names and I ended up agreeing to my DH's favourite straight after a c section. I had so much regret the year after he was born but could never quite bring myself to change it. I think if DH had known I would still be agonising over it 3 years later he would have let me change it.

I love names and have been thinking about them since I was a young girl so to not have been able to use my favourite names has really got to me. My son's name is Cillian. It has a K sound for those that don't know.
Please don't post anything negative about it.
Every time I introduce him I feel weird saying his name, and I feel regret that I can't introduce a name I love. There are so many names I love.
I adore my little boy so much and feel a lot of guilt about this.

OP posts:
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MayISuggestSomeThickCutSteakChipsToGoWithThat · 13/12/2022 23:32

Love it

CamillasToe · 13/12/2022 23:34

Totally normal name in my opinion. I like it

853ax · 13/12/2022 23:36

I really like it. Mbappe the French footballer has a version of it too so imagine with his popularity people will be familiar with it and no doubt make it even more popular.

worstusernameeverx2 · 13/12/2022 23:36

Reminds me of Cillian Murphy, it's a lovely name!

Theblacksheepandme · 13/12/2022 23:39

It's a lovely name but please don't shorten it OP.

LondonQueen · 13/12/2022 23:42

It's a pretty common name in Ireland, I like it.

Theblacksheepandme · 13/12/2022 23:43

MarmiteCoriander · 13/12/2022 22:56

@CanYouFeelMyHeart - Does the name Diana have Kill in it also? Sorry, I don't see the connection?

@JenniferBarkley - So if it rhymes with Lillian and Gillian but with a K- it is it pronounced Killian then?

OMG @MarmiteCoriander you actually made me snort out loud. Did you genuinely not get Diana?

CanYouFeelMyHeart · 14/12/2022 06:39

MarmiteCoriander · 13/12/2022 22:56

@CanYouFeelMyHeart - Does the name Diana have Kill in it also? Sorry, I don't see the connection?

@JenniferBarkley - So if it rhymes with Lillian and Gillian but with a K- it is it pronounced Killian then?

It starts with 'die' and is very often shortened to just 'die'.

CaffiSaliMali · 14/12/2022 11:28

Cillian is a great name OP. It's lovely that your DS has a name which reflects his Irish heritage.

It's not overused so it's memorable without being so unusual that people haven't heard of it.

I have a Welsh name in England and I love that my name reflects my heritage. I'm also shy so it's a useful conversation starter when people ask for its origin.

RaRaRaspoutine · 14/12/2022 11:56

Love the name so much. Plus Cillian Murphy's popularity means people outside of Ireland tend to pronounce it correctly too.

Bumpsadaisie · 14/12/2022 11:57

Its a great name.

Don't worry!

ratticus4 · 14/12/2022 12:00

I love it. I knew a handsome Cillian many years ago and he had a great surname to go with it too. I think it’s super for a child especially as it’s an in with his Irish relations.

Run4it2 · 14/12/2022 12:09

I love the name. You could call him Ian for short? But the full name is great

mishl · 14/12/2022 13:04

Honestly, I think it's a lovely name. Nothing to worry about. Who hasn't heard of Cillian Murphy or (different spelling) Kylian Mbappé?

CuteCillian · 14/12/2022 13:45

Moodhasplummeted · 13/12/2022 22:26

Hello @cutecillian can I ask is yours a baby or older now? Does it ever get shortened?

Sorry for the late response. If shortened, he is known as KiKi, which actually sounds pretty cool when shouted from the sidelines but doesn't look as masculine written down!

Merrow · 14/12/2022 13:47

I know a Cillian, he's great! Only known as Cillian and I think it's a lovely name

Rauha · 14/12/2022 13:52

Cillian is a good name. OP, you said your favourite name is Jesse. I think Cillian is a far better name than Jesse, if that helps.

Theoldwoman · 14/12/2022 13:54

I know a lovely young Cillian who is 11, it’s a great name and awesome for a teen, grown man.

DuchessDandelion · 14/12/2022 13:56

MarmiteCoriander · 13/12/2022 22:49

So Cillian is actually pronounced Kill-ee-an???

Mind blown- but then I wasn't born in the UK. I have no idea why anyone who choose a name that starts with Kill??? 😳

Helpful 🙄

Op, I'm another one who loves the name your son has!

Cornelious · 14/12/2022 14:05

It's a great name and has become more widely known since Cillian Murphy from peaky blinders.

cutiemcsweetie · 14/12/2022 14:12

I really like the name. It suits a boy of all ages and Cilli is a cute nickname. I understand you though, my dad forced me to name my son after him and 11 years later I still think about it, but guaranteed Im the only one who does as its just his name now and nobody gives it a second thought!

whataboutya · 14/12/2022 14:35

I absolutely love it. It's on my potential list of names but spelt with a K (DH French)
I also always suggest it to friends who are having baby boys Smile

panko · 14/12/2022 14:44

Nice

MistletoeandBaileys · 14/12/2022 14:48

I absolutely love the name Cillian. I know people who spell it with a K too. And I’ve never heard it shortened as such over here. Especially if you already call him Cilli that is probably what will stick as a nickname. Or Lee actually now I think of it!

As far as Irish names go it’s a really accessible name everywhere helped along massively by Cillian Murphy! But it’s beautiful and definitely no connections to kill or killers here 😉(I’m Irish in Ireland)

Chersfrozenface · 14/12/2022 14:50

It's a reasonably well-known name in Europe because of Saint Cillian / Killian, an Irish missionary to Germany.

Killian is the patron saint of Franconia in Southern Germany and the cathedral in Würzburg is dedicated to him.

So as well as an Irish heritage it has a European connection.