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Original poster

Ellis & Cai proper welsh names or chavy?

191 replies

firefirejugdypantsonfire · 29/04/2018 15:25

I need a welsh boys name for DS3. My DH is welsh but never suggests anything. I'm English.

I want something shortish and that can be easily read by non welshies.

Are Cai & Ellis options or not really Welsh names ? Hmm

I quite like Euan / Ewan but is the welsh version Iuan ? As sure that would be said differently in welsh and in England ( where we live I guess it would end up as Ian)

In the family there is already Bryn, Gareth, Huw, Dylan, Rhys, Ianto

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MikeUniformMike · 01/05/2018 21:09

I'm from N. Wales. Gwilym was old fashioned and fairly uncommon until around the turn of the millennium but now it seems fresh and cute. Dylan (pron. Dull-an) was hugely popular in the 1960s and 70s. It became popular as Dill-un later.
I think of Dylan as being a bit like Darren - nice but dated, but the Dillun pronunciation makes me think it's a naughty boy's name.

I like Alun, but not pronounced Alan. Alan/Allen is fine, but not Welsh.
An Alun would probably be over 45.

Welsh pronunciation is easy if you speak Welsh, but not otherwise.

Eu as in Ieuan is tricky. I'd approximate the pronunciation to Yeh-yan. Ioan is easier because of that nice actor who used to be Gareth Wyn in Pobol-y-Cwm.

Wyn and Bryn as siblings - No. Wyn is nice but was unbelievably popular as a middle name for boys and girls in the 1960s and 70s.

Keir isn't Welsh. It's Gaelic. Scottish or Irish.

Osian is pronounced Osh-an (an to rhyme with can, tan). It is the Welsh version of the Irish Oisin

Dewi is difficult if you don't speak welsh. It will be said as Dow-ee. I'd say it was dated but maybe it's come back around again. David would be acceptable though although welsh speakers would probably go for Dafydd or Dewi, or Dai or Dei/Deio.

Taran - I wouldn't. It's welsh for thunderclap.

Dozer · 01/05/2018 21:06

cai in england is associated with the rooneys, and ioan will often be mispronounced in england.

thegreylady · 01/05/2018 21:03

Orian
Bran
Geraint
Gethin

FizzyGreenWater · 01/05/2018 09:52

Your other two are very straightforward to say, and short - I'd go for Wyn. Great, and not too popular, slightly old fashioned but in a good way.

Also easy to say:

Mabon
Idris
Gruff/Griff, if you don't mind a kind of Welshy-but-not name. It fits with your others though.

I really like Talfryn (Tal-vrin), and Tal is a really easy to say short form.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 30/04/2018 21:11

Aneurin? Nye as a short nickname to go with the others.

CPtart · 30/04/2018 20:19

Don't like either of those. Cai is dreadful.
Another vote for Evan.

MeadowGrass · 30/04/2018 19:54

Idris
Rhys

Ragusa · 30/04/2018 19:50

Yeah Alun will spend a life in england as Alan. When it should be A-lin.

Wdigin2this · 30/04/2018 04:29

Owain pronounced....Owine.
Lloyd
Dafydd pronounced....Davith
Lewis
Tomos
Glyn

TheOriginalEmu · 30/04/2018 03:40

Where do you live mike? I ask because in my neck of the woods Gwilym would be seen as very old fashioned and Dylan much more popular.
OP, I would pronounce Iwan as Ew-an as opposed to Yew-an...iwan Rheon says it that way too if you want to hear it said.
And whoever said Ieuan is yoy-an....no.

TheOriginalEmu · 30/04/2018 03:31

Cai is a traditional welsh name, Elis with 1 L would be the welsh spelling. I like both a lot.

BreconBeBuggered · 29/04/2018 23:53

Iolo and Ianto are great; I suspect you wouldn't go with either of those. Careful with Alun as I knew a few English Aluns who pronounce it the same as Alan. Just no.

Fightthebear · 29/04/2018 22:45

Osian is a great name too.

TwigTheWonderKid · 29/04/2018 22:01

DH is also Welsh and we are in England. DS1 has one of the names you've suggested. DS2 is Taran.

Original poster
firefirejugdypantsonfire · 29/04/2018 21:44

@SuitedandBooted great explanation

OP posts:
Heartofglass12345 · 29/04/2018 21:31

Oh and ieuan is different again lol

Heartofglass12345 · 29/04/2018 21:30

We have an Ellis and an Osian (hello to anyone that knows me Wink)
We liked Ioan and well
Iwan is different to Ioan

My son goes to a welsh school and there are a few Cai's, i wouldnt consider it chavvy, maybe it depends where you live?

crimsonlake · 29/04/2018 21:26

Dylan, Dafydd, Huw, Gethin, Deuan, Glyn, Owen, Rhys, Alun, Alwyn, Ieuan, Llew, Llywellyn.

Penfold007 · 29/04/2018 21:19

Dafydd is a lovely name

snowsun · 29/04/2018 21:07

Dylan
Lloyd
Elis
Evan
Tomos
Huw
Osian
Afan
Dewi

Bastardingcough · 29/04/2018 21:00

Nye, Keir, Tomos, and Idris are my favourite short Welsh names

BestIsWest · 29/04/2018 20:58

I really like Caio. I haven’t heard it used as a name other than a place name but think it’s much nicer than Cai.

MikeUniformMike · 29/04/2018 20:51

There is no J in the welsh alphabet either. Jam is cyffaith but I've always called it jam.

Sophronia · 29/04/2018 20:45

Caio is nice.

alphabook · 29/04/2018 20:34

My boy's middle name is Elis. I also like Iestyn, Steffan and Rhys.

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