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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Opinions on these welsh names

52 replies

Christelle2207 · 16/05/2015 18:20

Rhys
Ioan

Ds2 due today and still no closer on agreeing a shortlist. I'm welsh and dp is english- child will grow up in England. IME English can't say Rhys as a Welsh person would so I would have to accept "Rees" pronunciation which I think is ok if not "correct" in my eyes. Ioan is pronounced yo-anne (emphasis on the yo) which I think is easier for english to say, but it's not very obvious looking at it is it?! Would I be setting up the child for a lifetime of misspellings and mispronounciations with either name?

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Original poster

Christelle2207 · 22/05/2015 19:44

That is a good point.
A reason that Bethan was struck off the list for hypothetical dd early on.

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MamOfTwo · 22/05/2015 18:27

I love Ioan but, beware, English People may pronounce it Yo-UN even though it clearly should be Yo-an. My DD has a Welsh name that ends in 'an' but tis always pronounced -UN and it Drives. Me. Mad! Love Idris and Griff too.

waxweasel · 22/05/2015 18:19

Don't use Emyr! I am Welsh and had a friend called Emyr as a teenager. My Welsh (but English speaking) parents couldn't say his name and forever called him 'Emma'. I've never met an English person who doesn't mangle it.

I also knew a Llyr, and that was a washout.

Has Taliesin been suggested yet? Bit flouncy? I like Ioan and it looks pretty self explanatory to me. Ieuan is nice too.

dottiemad · 21/05/2015 10:18

Ioan is pronounced 'Yo-wan'(John I think)

MothershipG · 21/05/2015 08:46

Griffin, Griff for short (Griffy when his sister wants to wind him up)

yakiudon · 20/05/2015 22:39

How about Gwilym....? My favourite boys name. Followed by Osian, Idris and Macsen.

Tigresswoods · 20/05/2015 21:01

Ok Sirvix. I can see that.

roomonmybroom · 20/05/2015 20:29

Ioan is a fine name IMO.
My sons middle name is Inigo, DH vetoed it being his first name, as everyone kept saying indigo, I wish to this day I had stuck too it.

Chillycamper · 20/05/2015 20:20

Teilo?

There are some great names on this thread. Makes me want another babe just to use one

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 20/05/2015 15:39

Christelle - you're right, the Welsh is Isfael or Ismael and the anglicised version is Ishmael (as in the village of St Ishmaels in Pembrokeshire, near where I grew up). I've never heard it used as a name in Wales but I have always loved it and wanted to use it. I know an English Ishmael of Muslim descent - I think I embarrassed him slightly by blathering on about what a great name he has .

Original poster

Christelle2207 · 20/05/2015 15:10

Don't think Ishmael is Welsh

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WaferInMyCoffee · 20/05/2015 14:26

I lived in Wales for a while and I love Welsh names. I love all the I names - Ioan, Iestyn, Ianto, Ieuan... Go for Ioan. It's lovely. I like Rhys (and the other spellings really annoy me!!) but I know loads of them so I think Ioan is a better choice.

Iestyn is my fave Welsh name ever though!

SirVixofVixHall · 20/05/2015 14:16

Tigress, in Welsh you sound the H. So Rhodri and Rhys do not sound like Rodri and Rees, which is how they get pronounced in England. Ditto Rhian and similar for girls.

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 19/05/2015 23:06

Maybe a bit "out there" but i LOVE Ishmael (aka Isfael/Ismael/Ysmail). To me it has the same feel as Isaac only better.

Tigresswoods · 19/05/2015 22:53

I grew up in Wales.

We had a Rees & a Rhys in our road.

I am oblivious as to how these two names are pronounced differently.

Takver · 19/05/2015 22:47

Froggy - DD was moaning about a girl in her class having an obsession with writing YOLO on everything - I thought she had a boyfriend called Iolo

OpiesOldLady · 19/05/2015 22:33

Love Iolo. And Ianto.

What about Madoc, or Aneurin, Nye for short?

Gethin, Garin, Hari, Tomos, Dafydd, Jac, Macsen, Ceri, Ivor.

SirVixofVixHall · 19/05/2015 22:24

you were close froggy, they are Osian, Rhys, Gwynfor.

tefloncoated · 19/05/2015 22:23

Tudor?

froggyjump · 19/05/2015 22:16

While I like the name Iolo suggested earlier, it does make me think of teenagers saying YOLO all the time!

My welsh friend has brothers named Huw and Ceri, and I also know an Oisian, Rhys, and Gwynvor. (spellings??)

Takver · 19/05/2015 16:43

Ioan if you're ever likely to move to Wales - there are so very, very, very many boys called Rhys!

If you like Emrys, what about Emyr as another option? I like Iestyn too. Illtyd always makes me think of the rather fine St Illtyd cheese

SylvaniansAtEase · 19/05/2015 16:14

Go for Ioan! It's actually very easy to pronounce and much nicer than Rhys-as-Rees/Reece. Ioan Gruffydd is well known, I don't think you'll actually have a problem at all. Ditto Idris as in Elba, which is also lovely.

Mabon
Macsen
Iestyn
Bryn
Owain

all easy to pronounce.

Original poster

Christelle2207 · 19/05/2015 15:41

Blimey. Never come across an Illtyd before. Nightmare!

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SirVixofVixHall · 19/05/2015 15:00

I really like Llyr, but I live in a very Welsh speaking area where it isn't a problem. I can't imagine what it would be from an English speaker. I don't think my uncle Illtyd left Wales very often, if ever!

Original poster

Christelle2207 · 19/05/2015 14:52

All interesting thoughts thanks. We have Idris and Emrys on the list too now.
yes Llyr would be a nightmare! Will give that a miss.

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