Welsh Name: EIRLYS

[mrsluwho]

Welsh-speakers, how do you pronounce 'Eirlys'?

I know pronunciation varies by location, but would love to get your feedback on how you've heard this name pronounced. Additional insight, opinions, etc. welcome also!

Due in late February, I was hoping to find a Winter-related name, but I never would have guessed I'd find one with a meaning so fitting. The literal Welsh word for 'snowdrop,' it is a white flower that blooms in late Winter and is a sign that Spring is near; it is a symbol of hope and new beginnings. What a perfect name of a February 20th baby!

[Lolimax]

Not a Welsh speaker as such (well GCSE lol!) but South Wales Valleys here. I'd pronounce it Ire (rhymes with Mire)-lys (rhymes with kiss).
Not heard of any little Eirlys's around here and I think it's a pretty name. The only time I've heard it is further West and older ladies. Definitely a yes (or is it an ydw?) from me.

[BestIsWest]

I would say Eye-Rliss. I'm in Swansea. Just a bit further west and it would be Ay-rliss.
Lovely name.

[CharleyDavidson]

North Wales here. Eira (snow) is pronounces Ay (like hay) -ra. So Eirlys would be Ay-r-lis. I like it. It's pretty.

[Sentry70]

Hello, I'm a fluent Welsh speaker and Lolimax is nearly right, but you have to sound the 'r' in the middle so eye-rrr-liss. We don't like to waste letters in Welsh, so if it's there, generally speaking, you pronounce it! That doesn't mean you have to of course, but that is how a Welsh speaker would say it. It's a really pretty name :)

[Sentry70]

Ah, I see others beat me to it!

[welshweasel]

I like it. If DS had been a girl he'd have been Aneira.

[mrsluwho]

Part of what drew me to the name was the enunciation of the R in Eye-rrrr-liss. I'm American, but I love the authentic sound of this name.

[BestIsWest]

I think Ay-rrrr-liss sounds prettier.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

North Wales family.
Airr-liss
As I'm not the Welsh one. And I struggle.

[mrsluwho]

I've cone across some posts where some say the name is pronounced withOUT the 'R' sound, i.e., EYE-liss or AY-liss.

Any Welsh speakers who can lend truth to that?

[BestIsWest]

Never heard it without the 'rrrr' sound.

[spiderlight]

It definitely has the R sound. I've lived in Wales all my life, from a Welsh-speaking family, and never heard it without.

[happypotamus]

For a small country, Wales seems to have a lot of variation in pronounciation. I am not Welsh or living in Wales and have a DD called Eirlys (possibly outing myself as there can't be many).We pronounce it like Airrr-liss. I have heard it pronounced like that in North and Mid Wales, and had people there compliment me on her name when we have been on holiday, but I have met Welsh people from further South who have told me (nicely) that I am pronouncing it wrong.
Our biggest problem is explaining to people here where we live in England how to pronounce her name. Sometimes I wish we hadn't used this name because everyone gets it wrong and she is starting to notice.

[BestIsWest]

Most of the Welsh alphabet is strictly phonetic. I think it is only the EI sound that actually differs. The 'ay' sound is the most formally correct but anyone west of Llanelli and south of Ammanford will say 'Eye' .

[BestIsWest]

I mean EAST of Llanelli obvs.

[longdiling]

There are other names this happens with Elin is pronounced as seen until you head West (particularly to Ammanford!) and it becomes a kind of Air-lin

[BestIsWest]

Yes of course, I forgot about the 'e' sound. Same with Megan, I pronounce it with a sort of 'a' sound.

[KoalaDownUnder]

It's such a beautiful name! I've never met one (Australian), but I love it.

[ThePartyArtist]

I am second language Welsh and would pronounce it 'I're - leece'.

[ShowOfHands]

My friend is Eirlys. She pronounces it Eye r liss. Sort of. My English, non-rhotic accent can't wrap itself around it.

Do you have any Welsh heritage?

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

South east Wales, Welsh speaker here, and this ay-rrr-liss is how I would pronounce it, with the ay as in 'hay'. Lovely name and meaning

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Lovely name, but you may have to accept that a lot of people won't be able to pronounce it properly. I certainly can't, no matter how hard I try (yes I am standing in the kitchen saying it to myself ) I keep losing the "r"!