Irish name

uvalori85 · April 2009

Dh and I actually agreed on a name and a spelling if it's a certain sex..

Ciaran with or without and accent over the 2nd a.

Out of curiosity, would you think it's a girl's name or a boy's name? And how would you pronounce it?

I'm 95% sure that's what we're going with, but I wanted to know what the general population thinks upon first sight. It's an Irish boy's name and it's pronounced like Keiran but I didn't want to put that at the top so I'd get your initial reaction.

TIA

AllThatGlitters101 · April 2009

If I saw the name, I would probably try and pronounce it, "See-air-an" and I would assume it's a female's name.

I am probably so off! I'm embarrassed!

uvalori85 · April 2009

AllThatGlitters101:
If I saw the name, I would probably try and pronounce it, "See-air-an" and I would assume it's a female's name.
I am probably so off! I'm embarrassed!

Don't feel embarrassed at all. I figured quite a few people would say it like that.

CourtneyRDH · April 2009

?I'd think it was pronounced Key-air-an. Sounds feminine to me.?

JillAly · April 2009

I've never met anyone with the name but I have an Irish friend who told me about the name years ago so I would have pronounced it Kiernan. Plus there is an actor Ciaran Hinds. Once people find out out to pronounce it, it's easy so I wouldn't worry too much if you want the Irish spelling. It's just like Celtic - just a hard c.

mrsekins · April 2009

AllThatGlitters101:

If I saw the name, I would probably try and pronounce it, "See-air-an" and I would assume it's a female's name.

I am probably so off! I'm embarrassed!

Yup, me too. Once people know him, it won't be an issue. But most people reading it will say it wrong, and people who hear it will spell it wrong. Just a gamble whether that will really irritate the kid or not.

SharonWantsABaby · April 2009

My DH's name is Keiron. No one ever mispronounces it.

MizMac · April 2009

I love that name, be it spelled Ciaran, Ciar?n, or Kieran! ?It used to be one of my favorite boy names when I lived in California, but now that I live in Boston and am married to an Irish man (from Ireland) it seems too common. ?It's a very popular name in Ireland. ?

?For what it's worth, I am REALLY surprised people thought this could be a girl's name!!?

tct1219 · April 2009

i would say keiran but it looks more like a girl's name with that spelling.

MTS13 · April 2009

Hi there, I live in Dublin Ireland and actually have a friend names Kieran. You're right, the Irish spelling is Ciaran with the same pronounciation, but the English spelling is Kieran and it's still considered an Irish name. Anyway, for what it's worth, I've seen him spell his name both ways, but he uses the K way a lot more, it's just easier to read.

naflmj · April 2009

Boys name but only because I know a boy with this name.

starsmaycollide · April 2009

I like Kieran, but the spelling with the C did confuse me and I wasn't sure-that first letter 'a' seemed like it should be pronounced differently. It does seem like a male name, I just think the K spelling would be easier for people.

teacherjess · April 2009

I'd pronounce it "See-air-en" and I'd assume it was a girl.

Are you using an Irish name because you are from Ireland? That name is sort of like the Irish name Aoife, or Saoirse...people from Ireland are the only people who know how to pronounce it correctly, and no one in America will pronounce it correctly.

I have this problem every year when I call the kids off at the beginning of the year in my classroom. If you want the right pronunciation, spell it Kiran or Kieran.

LMS05 · April 2009

Never heard of it and I have no idea how to pronounce it.?

seanswife · April 2009

DH and I are also using Irish names and Ciaran is on my boy list...love it, and don't think it's too out there.

I don't like Keiran, Kieran, or any other spelling. I like Ciaran. Period.;)

Irishsapphire · April 2009

There is a good website that pronounces the Irish baby names and gives background on the name.

https://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/boy-names-a-c.html

I like the name Ciaran for a boy's name. ?

There are also some cute baby gifts on this website as well. ??

I would say that Ciara is more of a girl's name. ??

irish1114 · April 2009

well, being that I'm of Irish descent I know how to prounounce it....and my DD's name is Keira :-)

MrsGeek · April 2009

With a hard C it sounds masculine, with a soft C it sounds feminine.

J+R · April 2009

I would have said "Karen" and I think that it looks very feminine... It is NMS though. Sorry.

rebus82 · April 2009

I think boy, pronounced Keiran. I knew that before this post though. Most people I suspect would say C-R-N as the pronunciation, and I guess if they'd never seen it before might think boy or girl.?

MaudGonne · April 2009

I love the name Ciaran! I know how to pronounce it and I think it sounds masculine, but I'm from Ireland so...

I can see how people would mispronounce it here but I love it so I wouldn't worry about it too much if you really like it.

teamla2000 · April 2009

KEER-in, and I'd think boy, 100%.

Lyssapee · April 2009

To be it's a boys name, I know a Ciaran, but I think he spells it with a K.

JLKinnear · April 2009

Looks like a boys name to me.

MTJunebride · April 2009

I think it is a great name. ?If you prefer the traditional spelling, then go for it. ?I think I'd spell it with a K just to keep it easier on him, but I can understand why you'd use the C spelling. ?We named our son Eamon and some people say Eeee-mon if they've never heard of it before.

My advice is don't worry about people who don't get it. ? The people who get to know your son and your family will learn his name once they hear it out loud.

jlynnr87 · April 2009

I had chosen Kieran as a top option if we had a boy, so I'd seen this spelling... When I read it, I assumed that was how it was supposed to sound. However, I think most people will mispronounce it. I think boy when I hear it, but you may consider another spelling??

CJ2008 · April 2009

I agree with first reply. I would pronounce it with a soft C and think its a girl name. I think with the K its more masculine.

megstriesagain · April 2009

This is such a common Irish name to me that I'm honestly surprised that anyone wouldn't know how to pronounce it or think of it as a girl's name! I'm Irish by descent, but didn't grow up in a particularly Irish area and have no relatives with the name...but IMO it's obvious how to pronounce.

dpdw · April 2009

I'm Irish-American & am very familiar with the correct pronounciation, which is more like Keir-awn, not the way most people pronounce Keiran. I love the name & the traditional spelling, although I wouldn't worry about the fada over the 2nd a -- at least not on the birth cert or other official documents. My nephew is named Ciaran. It's one of those names that the typical American will stumble over the first time, but once they are told how it is pronounced they won't have a problem with it. I'm sure it will be misspelled alot, but IMO that's not a big deal.

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