Thoughts on Keegan for a boy?

[mozork1]

The name Keegan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "son of Aodhagán," where Aodhagán is a diminutive of Aodh, meaning "fire" or "fiery one," often interpreted as "small flame" or "descendant of the fiery one," suggesting a spirited personality.

Origin: Irish.

Meaning: "Son of Aodhagán," stemming from Aodh ("fire"), leading to "small flame" or "fiery one".

Symbolism: Warmth, passion, and a bright, energetic spirit.

Kieran has 1970 working class kid vibes. At least it doesn't have 1970s footballer vibes.

Kieran has 1970 working class kid vibes.

Not in Ireland it doesn’t! Middle-aged man vibes maybe but that’s it.

OP hasn’t said where she is.

Meh

100 percent Irish woman here
Never heard of it other than as a surname. I don't think the child will thank you later.

I wouldn’t consider this an Irish name and I’m born and bred Irish? I think there’s nicer Irish names available. And it just makes me think of Kevin Keegan

Its very downmarket and only known as a surname both in the UK and Ireland. I would assume the child came from a very deprived background and that his parents were poorly educated. Sorry!

@Herriota , a baby born in 1970 would be middle aged now and there are areas of the UK where families have an Irish background. Sean was very popular around that time and there were definitely a few Keirans, along with Kevins, Siobhans and Niamhs. Most of them had Irish surnames.

Ciarán doesn't have the same vibe.

Awful. Will get Kevin Keegan references non stop. Maybe the child won’t but the parents will get asked continually if they’re Kevin Keegan fans.

A 1970s kid and middle aged man vibes are the same thing.

A boy called Kieran in 1970 is now a 55 year old bloke.

Sure, agree re it being dated, 70s.
That’s precisely why I said it has middle-aged man vibes.

But why are Irish names so often seen as working-class or ‘naughty boy names’ or downmarket on MN?
It’s prejudice.

@Herriota ,
A 1970s kid and middle aged man vibes are the same thing.
A boy called Kieran in 1970 is now a 55 year old bloke.
💯% this.

Why are Irish names very often seen as working-class or ‘naughty boy names’ or downmarket on MN though?
Many reasons, but historically, Irish immigrants to the mainland UK came for manual labouring work and would have settled here and eventually been housed in council estates. The estates became to be considered a bit rough as society changed. (Any coincidence that the Shameless family were Gallaghers? - don't blame me, I'm only asking)

The names aren't considered working-class or ‘naughty boy names’ or downmarket because they are Irish, but because of the types they get associated with.

I mentioned Kieran as working class but Ciarán not. An Irish Liam would be fine but a Liam born and bred in Manchester or Liverpool would not.
Cai in Wales would be quite likely be middle class but a Kai not.

Names borrowed from other languages that become very popular tend to not age well.
Names closely associated with one celebrity tend not to age well.

Keegan isn't a common first name in Ireland, and reads as a bit tacky (speaking as an Irish woman living in Ireland). Why not just go for Aodh if you like the meaning? Or Anglicise it to Hugh.

Aodh is a tricky one because it sounds like an initial. Aodhán will get some pronunciation confusion even in Ireland.
Where are you based OP?

The names aren't considered working-class or ‘naughty boy names’ or downmarket because they are Irish, but because of the types they get associated with.
@Knowsley
Unfortunately I don’t think that’s true, not in the eyes of some people anyway. It’s one and the same for them. I’ve experience of this unfortunately. There is prejudice there.

And Kieran was as popular as Ciarán in 1970s Ireland btw, so I really don’t understand your reasoning there@Knowsley.

I think it would quite likely potentially be perceived as quite chavvy

Many secondary school teachers will tell you that ‘boys with K names are naughty’

Keegan will hang around with Kayden, Kaleb and Kieran; get detention every night, break into empty buildings for shits and giggles and call everyone ‘bro’.

@Herriota , I'm not in Ireland. I don't know any Ciaráns. I know a few Kierans so my opinion is only on that spelling, and based on where I'm from.

I don't like 'anglicised' spellings. My opinion of Ciara (probably late 30s and Irish) is not the same as my opinion of Keira (probably about 20 or younger). My opinions of Eilidh and Aily aren't the same. Ian and Iain, or
Seán and Shaun/Shawn have a different vibe.
Neave and Shevawn are hideous.

I don't like 'anglicised' pronunciations. Dylan and Rhys said as Dillun and Rees to me have 'downmarket vibes'. (The ones pronounced the Welsh way are OK but middle aged.) Caitlín - having only ever heard it as Katleen (ish) it was a bit weird to find it popular as Kate-lyn.

That's the reasoning. You don't need to understand it.
The names being Irish isn't the reason. Some of them aren't Irish.

As for Keegan, it's a surname as a first name, closely linked to the famous Kevin, the former England manager, and I'd no more use it as a first name than I would Taylor, Southgate or Venables.

@Knowsley
Loads of first names used within Ireland itself are anglicised though (either spelling, pronunciation or both). Most surnames are because of our history. Unless it’s a unique type spelling it’s very normal. Kieran is as normal as Maeve or Rory, for example. They’re all anglicisations. So I think you’re misjudging some names based on a misunderstanding.

@Herriota , I'm not in Ireland, and as I said, my opinion is not about the use of names, Irish or otherwise, in Ireland.
OP doesn't say if she (or he) is in Ireland.

So I think you’re misjudging some names based on a misunderstanding.
Think what you like. The misunderstanding is yours.

I really don’t think so but I think we can agree to disagree. Sorry OP!

OP hasn't any other posts, @Herriota . I'm not agreeing to disagree with you. I think you misinterpreted my answer to fit what you have as a fixed idea.

I suspect Keegan would be viewed as a 'naughty boy' name because:

• It's a surname
• It is closely linked with one famous person

I would say the same about Shankly

This.

I don’t know how “Kieran has working class kid vibes” could be misinterpreted @Knowsley.

“I don’t like ‘anglicised’ spellings…I don’t like ‘anglicised’ pronunciations”.
Not sure how that could be misinterpreted either.

Anyway. There’s no point.

Makes me think of kegal exercises.

I’m in Ireland and didn’t realise the name Kieran was considered chavy in England. My grandfather was called Kieran and he was born in 1903.