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Original poster

How is the name Guto perceived outside of Wales?

90 replies

Reesie · 09/10/2011 22:00

Dc3 is due any time now and I know that he is going to be a boy. I had no problems naming dd1 and dd2 but dh and I are completely stuck on boys names. Both of us like the name Guto (pronounced Geit-oh) and most local welshies are positive about it. However, a couple of relatives/friends who over the border really don't like it. I've known a couple of Guto's over the years and they have been rather cool, very gorgeous sporty blokes which has probably increased my preference of the name!

Anyway, would you say yey or nay?

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BelleEnd · 11/10/2011 14:49

lostinwales What lovely names! I am a particular fan of Gwilym and wanted it for DS2, but DH vetoed.

TheOldestCat · 11/10/2011 14:21

I'm Welsh and there was a Guto in our street (a super furry animal, no less). Go for it; it's a lovely name.

We live in England but our son has an Irish name. He'll have to spell it out a lot, but better than a dull moniker like mine that everyone knows.

Thzumbiewitch · 11/10/2011 14:15

I thought I was quite good at the various non-English names in Britain but I've never heard of that one and would have a) pronounced it Goo-toe and b) thought it might be German or something (mind-link with Gunther, I think). I did also immediately think of Kato from the Pink Panther films. But I am ignorant and if you like it, go for it.

lostinwales · 11/10/2011 14:09

But no you can't steal any of the boys, just their names unless you want the four year old who is a right pain at the moment

lostinwales · 11/10/2011 14:08

Ah what the hell, I'm not very anonymous here anyway as their photo is on my profile and they're in uniform! I've got Rhodri Arwel, Tomos Owain and Gwilym Ifor, they do all have easy English NN's for the non Welsh side of the family, so they can leave Wales and not be constantly explaining their names to everyone (well their first names anyway!). They are all bilingual like most people round here and go to primary and secondary schools where the main language is Welsh. Our surname is proper Welsh too, when there are elections and all the posters are up with the politicians names on I always laugh and think at least if they want to be in the Senedd then they've got the right names for the posters!

ShroudOfHamsters · 11/10/2011 14:06

Like Guto.

As to other names, how about Macsen? Works well in England - can also be Macs/Max for short. Or:

Ceri
Iwan
Owain
Cadog

blushingm · 11/10/2011 13:48

Iolo is nice too? Or Efan, Iestyn, Osian, Rhodri

Original poster
Reesie · 11/10/2011 13:04

What are your boys names lostinwales? I could steal one! (the name not one of your boys of course!)

OP posts:
blushingm · 11/10/2011 09:29

what about Garyn - i was a school with a boy called that and always liked it

i'm also here in Wales but don't hear Guto often at all

BelleEnd · 11/10/2011 09:20

Oh your children have lovely names! I particularly love Gwenllian, and Gwen as a nn is excellent- Conjures the beautiful Eve Myles.

Original poster
Reesie · 10/10/2011 22:13

Really? I'm off for a look!

OP posts:
lostinwales · 10/10/2011 21:41

Dear goodness don't google images the name Guto unless you have good parental controls on you computer, there is a young man who makes a certain type of films with that name

BikeRunSki · 10/10/2011 20:50

I am English and live in England, but lived in Wales for a few years. I love Guto when pronounced properly. If you live in Wales, then what's the prob. Us thicky English folk have managed to get used to Niamh after all!

lostinwales · 10/10/2011 20:45

I love the name and was going to suggest the rather lovely looking young man you linked to as a namesake! I am however mother to three boys with very Welsh names! It's one of the names I have in reserve in the distant chance that we have any more, I like Huw as well (hmm Guto Huw, that would go really well with our surname) Efa is lovely too and my MiL is Gwenllian, I really like it.

TimeWasting · 10/10/2011 20:35

I really like it. It's unusual, but not unpronouncable outside Wales.
Aneurin is nice too.

Grin at Git O'Harry.

Original poster
Reesie · 10/10/2011 19:28

It seems that the name is also used in Brazil. This Guto is rather nice!

OP posts:
Original poster
Reesie · 10/10/2011 19:25

I'm going to go for it. Adrian, Dunan and Gavin are just not my taste and other welsh names such as Rhys, Ieuan and Gethin as so popular around my neck of the woods. There would probably be at least 3 of each in ds class. It is pronounced 'Git-oh' but didn't want to draw attention to the 'Git' part to see if people would pick up on it!

DD's are called Eve (Dh's choice - I was pushing for Efa but dh won!), dd2 is Gwenllian but is called Gwen day to day.

I forgot that it was a welsh alternative for Guy (as in Guy Fawkes, Guto Ffowc)!

OP posts:
minipie · 10/10/2011 11:02

I've never heard it. If I read it I would assume it was pronounced Gutt-oh or Goot-oh. Neither of which is very nice imo. Gait-oh is much nicer but I would have to be told that that was how to pronounce it.

Hotpotpie · 10/10/2011 10:58

Ive never heard of it either sorry, not sure I like it but thats not up to us to call (I do love Gethin though and Geraint)

AvengingGerbil · 10/10/2011 10:53

Another ignorant English person here. Never having seen it written down, I thought the BBC journalist was called Git O'Harry.

(I thought it was unusual Grin but never cared enough to check. MN education service rides to the rescue again.)

HappyAsIAm · 10/10/2011 10:43

I'm Welsh and I've never heard of it, and I definitely wouldn't have recognised it as being Welsh so I wouldn't have got the pronounciation right.

If you like Welsh names, what about Ieuan, Gethin, Rhys etc?

campergirls · 10/10/2011 10:32

lol at Adrian, Dunan or Gavin as alternatives. I think it's a great name, and Guto Ffowc is a fine role model!

GuillotinedMaryLacey · 10/10/2011 10:23

Not sure on the pronunciation, is it Gay-toe or Guy-toe? Never heard it before but if you're in Wales then I'm sure it's fine.

BelleEnd · 10/10/2011 10:23

I am Welsh first language and I wouldn't pronounce it Geit-oh- It's Git-oh. And it's lovely!

Do you want to give out your DC's names so that we can see your taste? I love Gerwyn, Geraint, Gwyn, and Gwyddno.

LunaticFringe · 10/10/2011 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.