Calan

kaylynne

So Calan is my middle name.  My parents found it in a tiny book called "Unique Baby Names".  It originated as a nn for Calandra (which is apparently a type of lark - I've found it in a few places, although BTN fails on this one). They picked it to offset the crazy popular first name they gave me.

Anyway.  It's pronounced more or less like my screen name. People are always reading it with a soft a (as in "cat").

I like it, when it is pronounced the correct way.  I might consider it for my future hypothetical progeny.  

I also might consider spelling it closer to the way it sounds - Caillin (which is actually the Irish word for "girl").

WDYT of Calan or Caillin?

solemnlyswear

I think it is cute but I also thought it was a soft a. So if you don't mind probably having to correct people on the way to say the name right then go for it.

Notwifezilla7

I won't lie, seeing it spelled the way you demonstrated did make me think "Cal-In". 

I have three friends with little girls: Kailyn, Kaylin, & Cailyn.  

jyoung01

I think Kalin might be what you want. Think it's an Irish boy name. Correct me if I'm wrong, bumpies.

AnneShirleyBlythe

You will always be correcting it because the "correct" way, phonetically anyway, is Cal-an. Lots of names are like that though, so if you love the spelling I wouldn't let it deter you. I had a student (a boy) named Calan and he pronounced it Cay-lin. CONSTANTLY had to correct people. 

It is also the name of a heart medication, or at least was back when I worked in a pharmacy in the 90's. Not sure if it is still around. 

mkanderson85

I taught a Kaylin and a Kaylynn. The only way I would pronounce that name correctly would be with a y in there.

strawberrytree

To be honest the only time I have seen the name spelled Calan or Kalan has been on a boy, as a variant of the Irish boy name Caolan. So I would assume boy when I saw it. For a girl I'd spell it more like Kaylin/Cailyn/etc.

ramoseecology

Notwifezilla7:

I won't lie, seeing it spelled the way you demonstrated did make me think "Cal-In". 

I have three friends with little girls: Kailyn, Kaylin, & Cailyn.  

 

I think the spelling on these might work better---particularly the first. I think it sounds pretty and I don't hear it being used where I live.

kayjay10

I love family names and the thought of wanting to use your mn.  However, this one you will be correctly all the time.  I completely thought it was pronounced with short a instead of long a.  If you really want to use it, I would use it in the mn spot again so that you won't have to correct it as much.

brighteyes2123

I know a Kaelyn

Taylor11

mkanderson85:

I taught a Kaylin and a Kaylynn. The only way I would pronounce that name correctly would be with a y in there.

This.  Calan looks like it's a boy's name, not to mention I would never think it was supposed to be 'kay-lin'...  I would def use a 'y'.  Pretty though once I figured out how it's pronounced!!

Vespah

kaylynne:

WDYT of Calan or Caillin?

Caillin has an aweful lot of vertical lines that all blend together with the 2 i's and 2 l's all mashed together, even the 'n' has 2 vertical lines

The name is very pretty and I love it, (DD is a Caelyn due to family tradition) and if you really like it there are lots of ways to spell it. It's #59, and there lots of choices.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Aul5rjpfI_qvdFJrVzU5SzdIS3NSSUptSktoQW8telE

 

g8trkim

brittersdamod:

I think it is cute but I also thought it was a soft a. So if you don't mind probably having to correct people on the way to say the name right then go for it.

Agreed.

provwife

Cal an is pronounced like alan but witha. Hard kuh....i don't like this pronunciation or name for a girl.
Caillin is ok...i say it like Kay Lynn

Caillin has my vote..

beckymonster

There was a guy on last season of the bachelor whose name was Khelan (not sure of the spelling - definitely a K and definitely the same pronunciation as the one you're going for).  It's possible people will think it's androgenous and probably they will mispronounce it. 

If you like it despite those things, I would go for it.  Also, I would spell it the way yours is spelled rather than trying to write a phonetic spelling that is made up.

salt78

My friend has a boy Callan, so I would automatically think Calan was a boy on paper.