What do you think of Llywelyn?

[AnnieDelores]

DP has just suggested this. At first I didn't like it but it's really growing on me. Shortened to Lewi?

[SausageMonster]

He'll spend his life telling people how to spell it

[AnnieDelores]

Mmmmmmmmm. You're right. Typo there too! Should be Llewelyn. Doh!

[poorbuthappy]

Too much of a surname for me (I know loads of them!) How about Lloyd?

[TmiEdward]

I love it. And like Lewi as a nn.
But Sausage is right.
I have a Dewi and always have to spell that. And old ladies always mishear and call him Jerry.

[mylifewithstrangers]

Actually Llywelyn is the original name. I like it, but only if you live in Wales.

I don't read Llywelyn as a surname, but Lloyd IS.

[edam]

Love it and considered it briefly for ds but we live in England I thought it might be a tad difficult for him here. Went with a much shorter/simpler Welsh name instead. (Which people STILL get wrong occasionally - you can't win!)

[edam]

(Although the story of Prince Llewellyn and his poor dog Gelert used to really upset me as a child - so if you are the kind of person to be put off a name by unhappy associations, do look it up.)

[LetThereBeRock]

I really hate it. I think it has an ugly sound.

[readywithwellies]

Like it, know a young adult with this name. Was Llew, not Lewi.

Agree with Edam about Prince Llewellyn though, check that out. That story makes me sad

[lowrib]

I love it, beautiful name.

I certainly wouldn't reject it for fear that the English couldn't spell it / say it. If you go down that road it's the death of Welsh / Scottish / Irish culture in action. If we don't use names from our cultures they'll die, and we might as well call all our DCs Edward and Jane (nothing wrong with either name, just very English!) They've learnt to spell Siobhan and Sian, why not Llewelyn next?

FWIW I have to spell my boring sounding surname which has an unusual spelling every time I say it. It doesn't bother me at all.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I like it - don't perceive it as difficult but then I grew up in a town with a large store called Llewellyns (in Essex, not Wales). It was a nice store that sold everything so an oddly good association

But I wouldn't use it unless I (or other half) was Welsh, personally.

[DuelingFanio]

will you be pronouncing it the correct way, with the double L sound?

[llareggub]

I like it. English people hear all sorts of names, Welsh won't be a problem.

[Kewcumber]

The story of Gelert isn't true! It was made up by an innkeeper (if I recall correctly) and his mates (presumably one slow night in teh bar). The supposed grave of Gelert has been relocated about 3 times I beleive.

I like Llewelyn but only if you can actually pronounce it yourself.

[AnnieDelores]

DP's Grandfather was Welsh, and so is his father, although he's spent most of his life in England and has an English accent. So there is a link, albeit tenuous.

I think its nice to nod to our heritage in some way though because we are no longer a nation of people bon and living in the same town, county, even country all our lives.

Ironically, the other name on my list is the very english Edward - but I'd call him Teddy or Ted.

[healthyElfy]

I have always seen it as a great middle name.

[Kewcumber]

But aside from the (however tenuous) link - can you actually pronounce it? If not, to call your child a name you cannot pronounce properly is bizzare (IMVHO). Nothing wrong with using a name that otehrs find it hard to pronounce (agree with the point about many celtic names dying out in that case) but choosing one you can't pronounce yourself is just one step too far I think.

[edinburghmama2b]

I love Lewi!

[llareggub]

I'm not quite sure how you'd get Lewi from Llewellyn. Llewi, yet, but not Lewi. It sounds very different.

[lowrib]

That is a coincidence! I hope I haven't put you off. Edward's a really nice name and Ted's a great NN I think.

As an aside - when I was trying to think of an example English name, Edward sprang to mind immediately (along with other mainly royal boy's names) but the first few girls names I thought of, I realised might not actually be English - e.g. Isabelle (isn't that French originally?) Charlotte and Beatrice (ditto). I'm not saying there aren't lots of English girls names - of course there are, but that lots of them seem so have more obvious influences form other cultures. Am I making any sense here?!

[lowrib]

Seem to not seem so.

[Kewcumber]

I agree Llaregugub - would be like shortening your name to Larry!

[AnnieDelores]

I see your point about Llewi. I agree Llewi is better. So which do you do you all prefer? Llewellyn or Edward / Ted / Teddy?

It's a close call.....although I have several months yet to think about it......hate thinking about it though!

[domesticsluttery]

Love it, but with Llew as a nn.

[ConstanceFelicity]

I considered this for DS2, but then I am a Welsh speaker who lives in deepest darkest Wales :o
Went for something else in the end, which we are having to spell ALL THE TIME.

It's a lovely name if you can say the "Ll" properly- It is not Lewelin! I would have shortened to Llew (which is Welsh for Lion, I love these nature names!)

TmniEdward, Dewi is a wonderful, wonderful name.