Cillian?

[babydue2025]

What do you think? We're both English living in England for context, but with Irish heritage and an Irish surname.

It doesn't mean anything unpleasant in English. It has one syllable in common with an unpleasant word, as do many other names including (as others have said) the name of the woman who was going to be queen at one stage.

But why is Cillian any worse that something like Diane (die) or Helen (hell)? None of the names mean anything unpleasant.

I really think it must simply be a question of being accustomed or unaccustomed with the name. Cillian causes no problems at all in Ireland where everyone speaks English, but we’re used to it. (And I’ve never actually met a Ben @bluebunnys😁)

It’s a strand of old-school anti-Irish prejudice that raises its ugly head on Mn from time to time.

Great name and I think Mr Murphy is going to be around for a long time, which will make it more known.

That's why no one names their child Louis or Louise either isn't it.

You do realise Ireland is a predominantly English speaking country right? Thousands of Cillians over there seem to manage just fine with it. I'm sure the English can get used to it.

Most English people are intelligent and open minded enough to cope with other languages and cultures - it’s never been an issue for us.

Guess how many languages are spoken in merry olde England these days?

Rudi, - rude
Hugh - huge
Rob, Robbie, Robert, Roberta - to rob.
Fanny - need I say more.
Diana - Die
Nick - to nick something.
Aggie, Agatha - agitate, aged
Dick, Richard
Molly - euphemism for genitalia in some places.
Will - Willy
Sian - sigh

Babs - baps (boobs)
Louis - loo.
Mikey - mickey
Randall - Randy
Rory - roar
Vinny - veiny 🤣🤣🤣

This is a fun game

Phil - pill

DS has a friend Cillian - I like it. We're in Liverpool and said with a hard C so pronounced 'kill-e-an'.

Oooh I thought it was a soft ‘c’ too until I read this thread! 😳 Oooops! At least I’ll know from now on.

I think it’s a nice name, regardless of my instinctive mispronunciation. My children have names that are unfamiliar in England but most people tend to remember the correct pronunciation after they’ve been told it once.

Many of the nicknames mentioned (eg Di, Nick, Lou) are so commonplace that people are used to hearing them as names

Kill is so unusual that most people won't consider it a name. Rather, they think of the word, to kill.

The Irish language doesn't have a soft c, it's always a hard 'k' sound. So Kiera Knightley's first name is basically the Irish name Ciara but spelled phonetically. I have a similar name and like you and your children, I've found that most people are happy to pronounce it correctly once they know how!

Yes, and Cillian is entirely commonplace in Ireland, along with placenames like Kildare, Kilkenny, Killarney, Kilbride, Kildorrery etc etc — which are anglicised versions of Irish place names beginning with ‘Coill’ (wood) or ‘Cill’ (church). Cillian is as ordinary as Thomas or Henry.

I’m sure if they try terribly, terribly hard, the kind of Little Englander who can’t say ‘Cillian’ without thoughts of violent death will manage to familiarise themselves.

It’s Killy-an, not Kill though.
I haven’t heard anyone use Kill as a nickname, though maybe some people do.
Spelt Cill, not Kill, anyway.

I think Cillian Murphy and Kylian Mbappé will have helped make the name less unusual in England?

There are lots of lovely Irish names. I wouldn't pick one that's difficult to spell or pronounce if you live in England though. It's just a bore for your child to have to go through life correcting people.

No one has suggested the name Kill.

Silly- an

or Killy - an.

Neither are great.

Killian is said and spelled phonetically in English though, it must be one of the easiest Irish names for English speakers.

I have a totally boring English name (think Catherine) and have to spell out/correct my name all the time.
It's really not a problem though.

Used to ride a lovely but keen Irish mare called Kilmar.

I hoped she wouldn’t live up to her name!

Asher, Ashley, Assumpta : Ass
Peter : pee
Peggy: to peg someone.

🤣🤣🤣

It is a lovely name. Those people who are too stupid to check on the pronunciation have opinions that are not worth bothering with . I am English and have spent some years living in Ireland and had to adjust to some differences in pronunciation. We English have some very odd pronunciations
too.

I love it! I’m Irish and know a few Cillian’s. Gorgeous name.

I love it with a c