See the results of this poll: Which name do you like best?
Respondents: 38 (This poll is closed)
- Ciaran Niall : 12 (32%)
- Kieran Niall : 22 (58%)
- Other (please comment): 4 (11%)
[name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] [name_u]Niall[/name_u]
I would not consider the name, either spelling, popular in the states. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] are wonderful together.
They both sound very feminine to me. I don’t really know any Irish names other than [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], [name_m]Breccan[/name_m], and [name_u]Rory[/name_u].
[name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] is the authentic spelling that retains its Irish charm so it gets my vote!
I have an aunt named [name_f]Karen[/name_f]. Should I worry that people will think I named him after her? They don’t sound the same to me at all, but she is not someone I would want people associating with my child. [name_m]Man[/name_m] I’m loving this name and it feels “right”.
Despite the fact that I generally prefer the original spellings, [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] actually got my vote here, but they’re both lovely! I also like [name_m]Declan[/name_m]!
Although I usually wouldn’t, I lean towards the “newer” version of [name_u]Kieran[/name_u]. However, I think some of this has to do with where you live … I live in an area where [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] would continuously be pronounced “cee-[name_f]AIR[/name_f]-ann”.
I haven’t met many Kierans/Ciarans, but it isn’t totally off the radar either 
P.S. [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]!
I voted for [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] because the “k” spelling is my favorite but if you want to avoid the [name_f]Karen[/name_f] association I would go with Cieran. Either way C/[name_u]Kieran[/name_u] makes a great brother name for [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]!
Super surprised, I expected more people to prefer the original spelling!
I definitely prefer the [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] spelling, especially with an Irish surname (are you spelling it with a fada on the second a? I love this pronunciation even more)
I think I’d have to agree with @tfzolghadr though, even though I love [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] and [name_u]Niall[/name_u] individually [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] [name_u]Niall[/name_u] does run together a bit.
I voted [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] [name_u]Niall[/name_u], partly because [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]'s so easy to pronounce at first glance, and partly because I knew a [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] and love the name with that spelling. [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] is a great name, but it feels much more unfamiliar than [name_u]Rowan[/name_u].
I would not worry—at all—about its similarity to [name_f]Karen[/name_f]. I can see how it could flow into [name_u]Niall[/name_u], but it isn’t slurry when I say it. I really like it.
[name_m]Declan[/name_m] seems like a great choice, too. Have you thought about [name_u]Niall[/name_u] as a first? [name_u]Niall[/name_u] [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] or [name_u]Niall[/name_u] [name_m]Declan[/name_m]'s pretty splendid, too.