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Baby names

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

Original poster

Definitely want a welsh name, any thoughts on shortlist?

112 replies

nightandthelight · 10/07/2015 19:15

Girls:

Aneira
Arianwen
Ceridwen
Enfys (too much like envy?)
Nesta
Tagwen

Boys:

Aneirin
Bleddyn
Emrys (has this been ruined by BBCs Merlin?)
Heddwyn
Maredudd
Seth

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Highlandbird · 10/07/2015 19:41

Love the name Angharad Smilehave you thought of Eirlys for a girl as well? I have a very difficult welsh name too, and have been living outside of Wales for the past 11 years....it's a pain sometimes but I still wouldn't change it, and I think if you live in Wales it shouldn't be a problem!

Lunastarfish · 10/07/2015 19:40

I love Ceridwen but I'm not welsh enough to pull it off!

Highlandbird · 10/07/2015 19:39

Love Enfys that has always been my favourite name for a girl! I also love Branwen.
Love all of the boys names, especially Bleddyn and Aneurin. Have only seen meredydd spelt like this though, not how how you spelt it in your op.
I'm biased as it's DS2's name but you might also like Gruffydd?

Original poster
nightandthelight · 10/07/2015 19:38

Thanks cd :) I love huw but it's my dad's name!

My name is Angharad so that's definitely out too. Eleri is pretty! I really like the name Arian as well but saw comments about the fact that most people will associate it with cash, hence the Arianwen.

OP posts:
cdwales · 10/07/2015 19:33

hi we went through this! Ended up with Huw. In my view the Welsh boys names are pretty good but the girls names quite the opposite... Ffion has been very popular in recent years in North Wales. Having to spell it to non-Welsh folk is a bit of a pain - and the pronunciations that come out of mobile phone messaging/voicetexts is ridiculous!
For what it is worth these do not have the spelling handicap:
Arwen, Arian, Anwen, Gwen, Bryn, Geraint, Aled, Tomos, Eleri, a.nd my fave Rhiannon (cf Fleetwood Mac)
these do a bit:
Angharad, Rhys, Dafydd, Sioned/Sion, Sian

Pob hwyl!

Original poster
nightandthelight · 10/07/2015 19:33

Thanks ladies :) I live in Wales but realise that dc may not always so should definitely consider how pronounceable it is. I have a Welsh name that people struggle with, it doesn't bother me but it might not be the same for dc.

DH isn't keen on Seth because of the Egyptian god of the dead :(

Emrys I think is my fav for a boy and like you say dilys it's unlikely to be remembered now the show is over :)

I love Anwen socks but have this fear that people will think it's too like Arwen and thus a bit LOTR!

OP posts:
SocksRock · 10/07/2015 19:26

Anwen is a lovely one - and said in English exactly as it's written which makes it easier if you live in England.

DilysPrice · 10/07/2015 19:25

I guess to some extent whether you care about them being English-friendly (or internationally transferable). As a non-Welsh speaker of Welsh descent I'd say that Bleddyn Heddwyn and Maredudd are the ones which are going to be really challenging for people who don't know much about Welsh to get their heads around, but you aren't obliged to care about that. I like Seth but then I'm a big Cold Comfort Farm fan. I prefer Aneurin as a spelling (socialist DH) but I know lots of people have reservations about it. And Emrys is very nice - I can't see Merlin being a problem in five years' tome when he's at school; it wasn't that big a hit.

All the girls' names are lovely with the exception of Enfys.which i can take or leave.

Original poster
nightandthelight · 10/07/2015 19:22

That's ok tangled :) which do you like?

OP posts:
tangledtanga · 10/07/2015 19:20

Sorry but I think there are much nicer Welsh names than the ones you've listed. The only one I like is Emrys.

barbecue · 10/07/2015 19:19

I like Aneira, Arianwen, Ceridwen, Aneirin, Emrys, Seth.

drudgetrudy · 10/07/2015 19:18

I like Arianwen and Aneurin. I didn't know Seth was Welsh.
Ceridwen sounds a bit witchy .
I like Anest better than Nesta but only because I know a few women in their 50s called Nesta.