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Baby names

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

Original poster

Welsh girls names that work in England

165 replies

sallysparrow157 · 11/07/2019 16:58

My partner and I are both (North) Welsh but living in England, I’m pregnant with twin girls and so far have been pretty useless in thinking of names...

We’re looking for names that are easy to pronounce by non Welsh speakers and also don’t look like we’ve spelt it wrong just to be ‘interesting’!

I’m not a fan of names like Seren or Enfys.

I don’t really mind names that are seen as a bit dated (but on the other hand lots of names that were common in my generation are names of people I was in school with and didn’t get on with!)

Help!!

OP posts:
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MikeUniformMike · 12/07/2019 10:12

Heulwen won't travel. It will be Hoolwin or Hailwin or Hule-win.
Ceinwen will Sine-win or Cane-win.
Arwen will be Ah-win.
Bethan will be Bethun.

poorbuthappy · 12/07/2019 10:02

Menna.
I regret not calling my first born Menna.

KissMeBunty · 12/07/2019 10:00

Lots of names on here that are either not Welsh, or not girls' names. Remember than -wyn is a male suffix in Welsh, and -wen is Welsh. So names like Bronwyn are odd to Welsh speakers (Bronwen or Branwen are fine.) I once heard of an Olwyn (supposed to be Olwen.) Olwyn means wheel!!

Mari
Mared
Swyn
Eiri/Eiry
Elan

MikeUniformMike · 12/07/2019 09:52

I was going to suggest Nerys.
Merin isn't welsh.
Myfanwy would be said as Miffanway, Eluned Eloond - don't do it.
Begw is sweet.

MilesHuntsWig · 11/07/2019 23:48

Nerys. My goddaughter's name and no one has ever had a problem with it (not in Wales).

Stopittt79 · 11/07/2019 22:49

Karis isn't Welsh.

Catrin would be constantly mistaken for Catherine, IMO.

Stopittt79 · 11/07/2019 22:46

Begw
Eluned
Gwenno
Gwyneth
Myfanwy
Sioned
Mared

Qwerty09876 · 11/07/2019 21:30

Merin
Karis
Seren

Fatkins · 11/07/2019 21:25

Oops! Sorry, not Mabli!

I do like Catrin though and Elin.

Fatkins · 11/07/2019 21:24

It's a shame about Nia as it's such a lovely name! Like you, I'm not at all keen on Seren.

I like Mabli, Alys, Megan and Bethan from your latest post.

Carpetburns · 11/07/2019 21:12

Ffion or Nia?

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2019 20:11

I meant, Morwenna is cornish but in Wales Morwen is a girl's name and the Mor is like the Morr is Morris.
so Morwen is pronounced Morr-wen, not More-win.
From that you could add the na to make Morwenna ( Morr-wenna)

Arwen and Anwen appears on these threads but Alwen is prettier IMO.

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2019 20:07

Sali Mali a Pry Bach Tew
Casi Ogysta ac Ann Ufydd

Derith might work. It's from a Kate Roberts book. Can't remember which one.
Mared might work too and is very pretty.
Melangell is lovely but probably wouldn't work.
Morwenna is cornish but would work (Mor
is like the Morr in Morris )

Frith2013 · 11/07/2019 20:04

Heulwen?

Troels · 11/07/2019 19:50

I just remembered I met quiet few old ladies named Menai, like the bridge. All in their 80's and from the Caernarfon/Bangor areas. I hadn't heard it as a ladies name when I was growing up. I thought it was quite nice.

andannabegins · 11/07/2019 19:46

I would have Anwen and Beti

Original poster
sallysparrow157 · 11/07/2019 19:26

Thank you everyone! Lots of potentials! You’ve convinced me to keep Alys on the list, Catrin, Elin, Megan, Bethan all potentials along with a fair few others - hadnt thought of Medi (they may well come in September so would be appropriate!!). Mabli, Nia, Angharad, Menna, Bronwen, Sian, tesni to mention a few all lovely but names of close relatives, friends (or friends pets!!). And Mali reminds me too much of learning to read (Sali Mali, the other one would have to be Pry Bach Tew....)

OP posts:
avocadoincident · 11/07/2019 19:12

Betsan

Betsi

avocadoincident · 11/07/2019 19:12

Mabli or Wynne

LittleDoritt · 11/07/2019 19:10

Tecwyn

soundsystem · 11/07/2019 19:10

I have an Arianwen and it doesn't get too badly mangled in England

origamiunicorn · 11/07/2019 19:08

Cerys, Alys, Sian, Nia, Bronwen.. I work in England with women with all these names. All are English only one has Welsh heritage. They are easily pronounced too

noideaatallreally · 11/07/2019 19:04

Ffion
Catrin
Haf
Medi
Lowri
Tesni
Angharad
Megan

Heymummee · 11/07/2019 19:04

I love Manon, Delyth, Rhianwen, Eira, Cadwyn, Alys, Elin and Erin

Historydweeb · 11/07/2019 18:58

Eira and Tanwen
They mean 'snow' and 'white fire'