Keiran or Ciaran?

[Anonymous]

I know Kieran is the more popular spelling in the US and Ciaran could have some pronunciation issues.

My concern (and I know this sounds silly) is how similar it looks to the name Karen. I actually think Karen is a lovely name but know many women who have not enjoyed the past few years as a Karen.

Should I even be worried? This is for a boy.

[Anonymous]

Well, first decide between Keiran and Kieran!

[Anonymous]

Tells me “Trying too hard to be unique”.

[Anonymous]

Do not try to spell that name with a C. Your poor kid's name will be mispronounced his entire life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tells me “Trying too hard to be unique”.

How is that name remotely overly unique? Not every baby boy is going to be named Oliver. It’s within the top 500 in the US and if you count all spelling variations probably higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, first decide between Keiran and Kieran!

Good point. I think I prefer Kieran actually seeing them both side by side.

[Anonymous]

Kieran does not make me think of Karen, especially since it's a boys name.

It does make me think of Kieran Culkin.

I would not use Ciaran, as no one will pronounce it correctly and your kid will wind up going by a nickname or giving up and just letting people mispronounce his name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not try to spell that name with a C. Your poor kid's name will be mispronounced his entire life.

That’s my main concern. Visually I think I actually prefer Kieran or Keiran.

[Anonymous]

Go with Kieran (and it doesn’t at all make me think of “Karen” - totally separate names)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tells me “Trying too hard to be unique”.

How is it unique? Ciaran is a wildly-popular name in Ireland.

In my family, most of whom are second-to-fourth-generation Americans from Ireland and Wales, Americanizing the spelling of a Gaelic name would be the move that would have others scratching their heads. We spelled our children's names the Gaelic way-- Niamh (not Neve), Aine (not Anya), and Cillian (not Killian). It isn't unique; it is honoring our heritage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tells me “Trying too hard to be unique”.

How is it unique? Ciaran is a wildly-popular name in Ireland.

In my family, most of whom are second-to-fourth-generation Americans from Ireland and Wales, Americanizing the spelling of a Gaelic name would be the move that would have others scratching their heads. We spelled our children's names the Gaelic way-- Niamh (not Neve), Aine (not Anya), and Cillian (not Killian). It isn't unique; it is honoring our heritage.

Hate to break it to you, but Ciaran is not “wildly popular” in Ireland. If you wanted that, you’d name your kid Jack.

https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ibn/irishbabiesnames2022/mainresults/

[Anonymous]

For the love of all things holy, please pair that with a vanilla, easy-to-pronounce middle name so your dc can go by that in middle school. Kieran Jack Thomas, or whatever. Some kids get so down with their names being butchered by every sub.

[Anonymous]

Go with Ciaran so we know from the start not to chat you up and invite you to coffee/play dates. High Maintenance Moms who will sing-song “oh, no, no hitting” while doing nothing to stop their brat’s terrible behavior are best avoided.

[Anonymous]

How do you want people to pronounce it? I’d read Ciaran as se-yaran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the love of all things holy, please pair that with a vanilla, easy-to-pronounce middle name so your dc can go by that in middle school. Kieran Jack Thomas, or whatever. Some kids get so down with their names being butchered by every sub.

I’m so baffled by the people who consider this name out there?

You’d think I was naming my kid something like Balthazar. Does everyone in DC name their kids top ten only?