Love them both but each have their positives and negatives (does Kieran sound like Karen? Cassian has pop culture references) but I don’t like any other names. I like that they are named after saints and our other son is name after a saint. Not trying to be outwardly religious but a nod to our roots.
I prefer [name_m]Kieran[/name_m], just because it feels less popular. I’ve never once looked at [name_m]Kieran[/name_m], and read [name_f]Karen[/name_f]. [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] is lovely too though. So you can’t really go wrong. Good luck.
I definitely don’t think [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] is too close to [name_f]Karen[/name_f]. Kieran’s not that rare of a name (at least where I live, maybe it’s rarer by you?) and I think if you’re addressing a little boy/young man/etc then most people will assume [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] and not [name_f]Karen[/name_f].
I see the appeal of [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] for sure but it’s not a personal favorite. I do think [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is a great nickname option. Of your two options though, I get friendlier, more approachable vibes from [name_m]Kieran[/name_m]!
Thank you for your insight!!
Thank you! It’s not popular where I’m from so that’s why the [name_f]Karen[/name_f] thing got stuck in my head haha
I like both of these names but have a real soft spot for [name_m]Cas[/name_m]. So I voted for [name_m]Cassian[/name_m].
I voted [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] because I like [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] or [name_m]Cyprian[/name_m] more than [name_m]Cassian[/name_m]. To me [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] is too feminine.
[name_m]Kieran[/name_m] does not sound like [name_f]Karen[/name_f] to me. I know a teenager named [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] and I always thought it was a lovely unique name!
It depends on how you’re pronouncing [name_m]Cassian[/name_m].
I knew a [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] growing up, I think it’s underrated! I love [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] but feel it’s having a red hot moment right now with the book character and the [name_m]Andor[/name_m] series, so it might not age that gracefully (but that might be more based on my fears and anecdotal evidence than real data!)
I love both but slightly prefer [name_m]Cassian[/name_m]! Ciaran/Kieran’s similarity to K@ren is what I love about it - it is my mom’s name and I love that [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] could be an honor name for her. But in general I do prefer [name_m]Cassian[/name_m]. Good luck!
It would be pronounced [name_m]Cass[/name_m]- not [name_m]Cash[/name_m]- 
I like [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] best – handsome but gentle – and while I know of the pop culture references, I don’t find them overwhelming + it still feels like a name in its own right.
[name_m]Kieran[/name_m] is pleasant too – and I don’t find it too close to [name_f]Karen[/name_f] – I just like the sounds of [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] best.
I voted [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] because it’s a warm, immediately likeable and “good, solid guy” name. But I do like [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] - it has more presence & authority perhaps than [name_m]Kieran[/name_m]. It also has a fantasy-literary vibe.
There’s [name_m]Kiernan[/name_m] too which is is a sort of midway point. Memorable but reliable and timeless.
[name_m]Cassian[/name_m] is my favourite!