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Bethan - how is it pronounced?

28 replies

longestlurkerever · 13/01/2015 16:34

I really love this name but am not Welsh. I grew up on the borders of North Wales with lots of Welsh-named school friends though and they generally pronounced it "Beth-An" with the emphasis on the "An" though they were not generally Welsh either - certainly not Welsh speaking though they probably had Welsh backgrounds. I've since heard "Bethun", with the emphasis on the "Beth" and I read a confusing thread with people from South Wales disagreeing about the correct pronunciation. Is it optional/variable depending on accent/dialect or is one of the pronunciations definitely wrong?

We would probably use Beth on a day to day basis anyway so I am not massively bothered if different people pronounce it differently but I am lobbying dh to make Bethan the official name and my cause is not helped by being unsure of how it's pronounced.

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longestlurkerever · 13/01/2015 16:39

Yes, I suppose I don't mean Beth-Anne with the emphasis properly on the "An" but the emphasis being balanced-ish, rather than Beth'n. Good - it seems the way I naturally pronounce it is OK.

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WishUponAStar88 · 13/01/2015 16:38

I only know one and she pronounces it Bethun. I wouldn't say emphasis on the un but definitely not an 'Ann' sound. She's not Welsh either though.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 13/01/2015 16:36

Beth-an rather than Beth-un. Emphasis on the Beth, usually.