Is Kieran manly?

asibilrud · October 2012

I really like the name Kieran but I also know a woman named Karen so it makes me think that the name sounds feminine.

I am NOT suggesting that the name should ever be used for a girl. I just want to know if you think its "manly" enough to name a son?

strawberrytree · October 2012

Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

salt78 · October 2012

Kieran is all boy to me.

asibilrud · October 2012

strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

I think you are missing the point. For example, Julian is a boy name but many people think it sounds feminine...

strawberrytree · October 2012

asibilrud:
strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

I think you are missing the point. For example, Julian is a boy name but many people think it sounds feminine...

I get what you're saying, I just disagree with you. I don't think Julian, Adrian, Tristan, or Gabriel sound feminine either. Manly doesn't always equal "macho" names like Cannon or Blade [exaggerated for emphasis, not saying those are your choices].

asibilrud · October 2012

ramy3695:

strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

Exactly. Also, Kieran and Karen are pronounced completely differently. If you didn't already know, Kieran is pronounced KEER-awn.

Yes I am aware.

AEN1029 · October 2012

I asked my husband and he says "no, Kieran is not manly." lol It is a masculine name, but I do tend to be one of those people that think Jordan, Julian, Aiden, Kaiden, Brayden, etc are a little feminine. They're just NMS.

CiderWench · October 2012

I would have the same concerns with it as you. I think it is feminine-sounding and it brings to mind the girl names Keira and Karen.

ames71 · October 2012

To me, no.

I would lump Kieran with other male names that have a feminine feel to them?either because they are softer-sounding or because a female name exists that sounds similar.

Off the top of my head, others I that I can think of include Jasper and Tristan. That said, I wouldn't use any of those names on a girl, either. It's just a preference thing.

ramoseecology · October 2012

I feel like it is a more feminine male name but I like it.

ferris0906 · October 2012

Meh...

While it absolutely is a boy name, I don't think it's overly "manly". I can't really explain why though. Although I do have a friend whose husband is Kieran, so maybe subconsciously I am thinking of him instead of the name.

blush64 · October 2012

It's not pronounced like Karen. It is a manly name.

EDIT I don't think of Karen when I hear it because it's spelled and pronounced differently. I don't think of it as feminine. I have known a few and none were especially feminine.

Zimger · October 2012

Yes, I think it sounds very masculine.

ETA: I agree with a previous post that stated masuline names don't have to be "macho" in order to be manly. I personally prefer names that are not "in your face".

WashingtonQueen · October 2012

I suggested the name Kieran to my SO a few months ago but he shot it down right away because it reminds him too much of Karen and Kiera.

AmyRI · October 2012

strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

This.

I don't get this argument that it's too close to Karen and Kiera. Is Stephen femenine because it's close to Stephanie?

joyfullyfound · October 2012

It's not the most manly of names, no. It doesn't have the same masculine appeal of names like Charles, William, Benjamin, Jackson, etc...

Zimger · October 2012

PeanutR1:
Not even remotely manly. To me, names like Kieran, Jayden, Tucker, etc. all say "Hey John, Nick, Robert, and Greg....please kick my ass"

I'm sorry but that comment gets an eyeroll from me. I just think it's ridiculous.

Zimger · October 2012

PeanutR1:
Zimger:

PeanutR1:
Not even remotely manly. To me, names like Kieran, Jayden, Tucker, etc. all say "Hey John, Nick, Robert, and Greg....please kick my ass"

I'm sorry but that comment gets an eyeroll from me. I just think it's ridiculous.

Roll away. It it CLEAR from previous posts that you and I don't see eye to eye on names.

I plan to. Wink No need for yelling.

queenbone · October 2012

strawberrytree:
asibilrud:
strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

I think you are missing the point. For example, Julian is a boy name but many people think it sounds feminine...
I get what you're saying, I just disagree with you. I don't think Julian, Adrian, Tristan, or Gabriel sound feminine either. Manly doesn't always equal "macho" names like Cannon or Blade [exaggerated for emphasis, not saying those are your choices].

I totally agree. A lot of the responses in this post make me incredibly sad.

victoria+james · October 2012

It may be a boy name, but it isn't manly.

mrs_tacos · October 2012

I had never made the Kieran/Karen connection until you posted this. I think Kieran is bold, and will work well on both a boy and a man.

jupiterthecat · October 2012

No need to get into gender politics here, nor to suggest that little boys with un-masculine features should get beaten up. People on this board often refer to certain girls names as being very feminine (Isabella, Elizabeth, etc.), and it's silly to pretend that a similar continuum doesn't exist for boy names. Personally, I tend to like boy names with a little less of a masculine feel (Jude, Micah, etc.-- the only one that goes to far for my tastes is Tristan).

All that said, I don't see Kieran as being too feminine. In fact, as it ends in a schwa+ N syllable, it conforms to the current formula for male names, so I imagine that in time that syllable structure will be as strongly associated with masculinity as superfluous vowel sounds culminating in an A are associated with femininity.

see https://www.slate.com/articles/life/explainer/2012/05/baby_names_why_do_so_many_of_the_popular_ones_rhyme_.html

ETA: one could blow a hole into my logic by pointing out that Tristan has the same syllable structure....

jallascalla · October 2012

Yes, of course it is manly, but then I am Irish. To think otherwise seems ridiculous to me. The whole "some boys with certain names will beat up other boys" argument is really immature -- this is a learned behavior -- kids learn from this from their parents' attitude.

sillykaren · October 2012

I had never heard it until recently, but I now know two. Both girls.

Zimger · October 2012

sillykaren:
I had never heard it until recently, but I now know two. Both girls.

Oh dear.

provwife · October 2012

I have heard the name Curin for a girl...not sure how to properly spell it. Curin isn't bad...I don't know how to pronounce Kieran.

Zimger · October 2012

provwife:
I have heard the name Curin for a girl...not sure how to properly spell it. Curin isn't bad...I don't know how to pronounce Kieran.

Kieran

https://www.behindthename.com/name/kieran

I've personally never heard of Curin.

msmerymac · October 2012

strawberrytree:
Well, it's a boy's name. So yes, I think it is "manly" enough to be used on a boy.

Yeah, this. Also, it's a completely different name. Kieran is Irish/Gaelic IIRC. Karen is Scandinavian and is a version of the name Catherine/Kathryn.

mommyaudra · October 2012

love it actually thought of that name too!

provwife · October 2012

Zimger:
provwife:
I have heard the name Curin for a girl...not sure how to properly spell it. Curin isn't bad...I don't know how to pronounce Kieran.

Kieran

https://www.behindthename.com/name/kieran

I've personally never heard of Curin.

Oh...if cur in is the correct pronunciation for Kieran then, yes, it sounds like a girl name.
And I know I am not spelling the name I am thinking of correctly....maybe Corin or Keren?

https://www.behindthename.com/name/keren

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