Barry Keoghan finally explains how to pronounce his last name

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After years of mispronunciation, Barry Keoghan has revealed the correct way to say his name, and it’s sparked debate among his fans.

The Irish actor has been appearing more publicly lately, after a quieter year. So far in 2026, he’s already starred in the thriller Crime 101 alongside Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, and the eagerly awaited Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man movie with Cillian Murphy and Rebecca Ferguson.

In the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie, Barry Keoghan stars as Duke Shelby, the son of the infamous Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy). Duke now leads the Birmingham gang and is known for his ruthless methods. However, some viewers have noted and questioned Keoghan’s accent in the film.

While promoting the ‘Peaky Blinders’ film, Keoghan finally revealed the correct way to say his surname.

Barry Keoghan says it’s pronounced Ke-oh-gan

Okay, so I know a lot of us have been quietly stressing over how to say Barry Keoghan’s name correctly, right? Well, thankfully, he’s finally set the record straight! It’s pronounced ‘Ke-oh-gan.’ Huge relief!

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Barry Keoghan, the actor known for his role in Peaky Blinders, recently appeared on BBC Radio One to settle a debate about how to pronounce his name. Host Greg James had been corrected by listeners for mispronouncing it, so Keoghan clarified that James was, in fact, saying it correctly. He jokingly added that the only way to be sure you’re saying it right is if a Keoghan tells you otherwise.

Keoghan also corrected a frequent mispronunciation of his name, joking that saying “Kee-gan” sounds like an illness. However, his comment unsurprisingly upset some fans online.

Someone noticed that Barry seems to be mispronouncing his own name. They pointed out that, as an Irish person, his pronunciation is unusual. This sparked a discussion, with another commenter suggesting he’s using an Anglicized pronunciation, possibly a habit specific to Dublin, and that it’s not common throughout Ireland.

One person responded to the discussion, jokingly saying you can’t mispronounce your own name. Another commenter pointed out that the person is from Dublin, and it’s perfectly acceptable if that’s how they and their family say it.

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2026-03-13 15:51