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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rhiannon

30 replies

RedDwarves · 05/04/2018 12:16

What are your thoughts on the name Rhiannon?

We have a very common, one syllable surname, so Rhiannon fits the “unusual but not unheard of” first name criteria.

Have also contemplated Arwen but figured it might be too heavily linked with LOTR.

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NameyMcChangeRae · 06/04/2018 20:12

It makes me think of Shannon...
Which makes me think of Shannon Mathews...
Sorry

chorusline79 · 06/04/2018 12:55

Both names are lovely - are you swaying towards one OP?

loobylou1967 · 06/04/2018 01:17

Love it! And so I should.... chose it for my daughter and still love it 22 years on. My beautiful Celtic princess.

Original poster
RedDwarves · 06/04/2018 01:07

Did not realise it would spark a debate about pronunciation! I’m not Welsh, nor do I live in the UK. It’s unusual where I live and has never been popular.

But I appreciate all feedback. Smile

OP posts:
BlackberryandNettle · 05/04/2018 23:48

Like it and makes a change. The one I know speak it rhiannan

Joeybee · 05/04/2018 22:47

Lovely name, also it's totally underused now. Go for it!

SallyCinnamon3009 · 05/04/2018 22:43

Love it

AlecOrAlonzo · 05/04/2018 22:31

Love it. One of my loveliest friends is called Rhiannon and this makes this a sparkly, happy name to me. Plus the Fleetwood Mac song is great.

chezmk1988 · 05/04/2018 22:27

Don't like it sorry

MikeUniformMike · 05/04/2018 22:25

damn spellchecker.
"In wales, the At in Arwyn, Arwel etc is pronounce ARR, not Are."
should read
"In wales, the AR in Arwyn, Arwel etc is pronounced ARR, not Are."

pilates · 05/04/2018 22:25

Dislike strongly

MikeUniformMike · 05/04/2018 22:23

At not At

MikeUniformMike · 05/04/2018 22:23

Anwen is very dated IMO but regularly turns up on here. It is a made up name dating from the 20th century. I'd expect an Anwen to be 70ish.
Arwen is from Lord of the Rings, but is occasionally used in wales as a feminine form of the boy's name Arwyn. In wales, the At in Arwyn, Arwel etc is pronounce ARR, not Are.

MikeUniformMike · 05/04/2018 22:18

It is pronounced Rhi Ann-on, although in Wales it often sounds like 2 syllables. Rh is a welsh letter that sounds like R+H said at the same time.
English people say it as Ree Annan, which is nowhere near as nice, and it sounds a bit yuk to me.

As a welsh name, it was popular in the 1940s then became less popular but not unusual, with Rhian becoming popular in the 1960s.
Rhian is pronounced Rhi-ann, with the accent on the Rhi.

Both names are not unusual outside Wales, and will get pronounced as Ree Annan and Ree-Anne, which I feel is a bit of a shame.
They will get misspelt too.

I like both names, but prefer Rhiannon.
Non is a name in itself and is pronounced like On but with an N at the beginning, not like Nun.

RapunzelIsHere · 05/04/2018 21:56

I’ve known some who insist that the end is pronounced like ‘none’, which sounds really clunky and just not natural to say. I like it if you will pronounce it with a softer and more natural ‘nun’ sound if that makes sense.

Like with the surname Blackman, you wouldn’t stress the ‘man’ sound, it would be more like ‘mn’.

YoucancallmeVal · 05/04/2018 21:44

I like it more nowadays, but growing up in Wales it tended to be a nerdy, frumpy girl's name in the 70s where I was, so I have quite negative connotations. That being said, I'm sure you don't have the same association at all!

Spam88 · 05/04/2018 15:32

I take it you're not in Wales if you think it's unusual? It's very common and I think it's a bit dated personally 😬 sorry!

Arwen is a bit LOTR, but what about Anwen?

pipilangstrumpf · 05/04/2018 15:21

I don't like it. It seems masculine and reminds me of a rhinoceros.

ChocolateCrunch · 05/04/2018 14:55

Much prefer Arwen, Rhiannon sounds a bit dated now.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/04/2018 14:54

The new ending soon very harsh so it's a no from me, sorry

Kidslovecucumber · 05/04/2018 14:37

I agree you would get ‘Ree-ann-UN’ in England. I’m welsh myself and find it a bit dated.

DanceDisaster · 05/04/2018 13:11

I’m not keen on it. No particular reason, except I don’t think it’s a very nice sound.

I love Arwen and wanted it for dd, but dh vetoed (boo).

Frazzled2207 · 05/04/2018 12:55

I'm welsh and no English person can pronounce it properly. So in England it would be a no for me.
Need to properly roll the R.
Rhi (proper rolled r) - a (proper a sound like cat/hat) - non (o is like in cot/hot - not like nun!)

uncoolnn · 05/04/2018 12:48

I really like it Smile

GimbleInTheWabe · 05/04/2018 12:43

I love the song. Not so keen on the name though if I'm honest, but maybe that's because I knew a Rhiannon who was really nasty.

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