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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Alternatives to Anwen?

117 replies

DrowsyDragon · 30/05/2020 15:14

Hello, we’re expecting dd2. (Well probably, scans can be wrong). I’m welsh, though not welsh speaking (dw’in dysgu) and my husband is antipodean as is all of his family. I have a fairly traditional welsh name and I really want to pass welsh names down to my kids. Husband is ok with that as long as they are “not too hard” for non welsh people. DD1 is called Alys.
He’s really set his heart on Anwen for dd2 but my parents were really rude about it when he suggested it last time - old fashioned and frumpy?
I increasingly like it but I am not sure and as my husband has an A name too I worry it seems like we are doing an “a” name theme.
Basically, thoughts on Anwen, Lots of names with the same letter in one family and any other anglophone friendly welsh girls names. [he’s vetoed Eira and Mali to my disappointment). Thanks!

OP posts:

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LovelyBranches · 04/06/2020 18:48

Catrin is lovely and travels well through life. It’s cute enough to suit a baby, a teenager could use Cat and a professional adult would happily use Catrin. I can’t think of any in my children’s Welsh medium school or nursery either so not overly popular but still beautiful

MikeUniformMike · 04/06/2020 12:55

@QwertyBert, Meredydd (Merr-ED-ith, the as in the and that, not thing) is a boy's name. Meredith is a surname - the anglicised form of Meredydd - gets used as a girl's name.

The only way you get Catrin wrong is that the -in doesn't quite sound like the English word in, same goes for Elin.

Original poster

DrowsyDragon · 04/06/2020 10:17

I'm definitely starting to lean more towards Catrin. It's a lovely name, it's a different initial and it's actually the name of the lovely lovely midwife who delivered DD1!

OP posts:

ThighThighofthigh · 03/06/2020 22:33

I like Catrin and who can go wrong with the pronunciation.

Runnerduck34 · 03/06/2020 22:14

One of my best friends has a 7 year old daughter called anwen , so i dont think of it as old and frumpy but i appreciate if you live in wales/ are welsh you may have different views or associations with the name. If you like it go for it, I personally think its a lovely name.
I also like Carys,
Bethan and Rhiannon

QwertyBert · 03/06/2020 22:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 03/06/2020 21:21

Arwen is lovely, you could also consider Eirianwen, Rhianwen, Bronwyn or Sionedwyn for similar sounds. Otherwise, pay no mind to what other people think - she's your daughter, not theirs!!

mamansnet · 03/06/2020 21:17

*name, not babe!

mamansnet · 03/06/2020 21:17

@MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately Think we might end up with Hâf as a second babe

Blackbelt · 03/06/2020 20:15

I know of a little baby called Anwen which they shorten to Annie or Winnie which might suit your in laws

MikeUniformMike · 03/06/2020 20:11

There's no L in Ll.

CromfordGreyhound · 03/06/2020 20:01

I cant recall the meaning of as it was some years ago since the lady was my teacher

A quick ask of google suggests likeness/image. I may have over estimated the number of l's in my earlier post.

Still a lovely name though and should be heard more often!

MikeUniformMike · 03/06/2020 19:32

Llyneth - never heard or seen that before. What does it mean?

Another warning. Transposed letters. I was reading an article about Gwyneth someone or other, and only once was her first name spelt correctly. Gywnnie looked very odd.

CromfordGreyhound · 03/06/2020 18:43

A primary school teacher of mine had three daughters called Rhiannon, Eira and Llyneth.

I always loved those names. Any help to you OP?

Mimilamore · 03/06/2020 16:54

Lovely, you choose the name for you not others....

Cindie943811A · 03/06/2020 15:25

Good luck with whatever you choose OP.
Lovely to see a mother willing to put in the extra effort required to pass on your genetic heritage.
My Welsh DNA goes back at least 3 centuries so heritage long forgotten to my regret. Wonderful culture and good to see so many valuing it nowadays.

MikeUniformMike · 03/06/2020 13:31

Arianwen should work but instead of Ar-YAN-wen, it will get said as Arry Anwen, which is a bit harsh sounding.

Gin4thewin · 03/06/2020 12:19

Someone i work with called his daughter arianwen, they call her Ari for short

CaffiSaliMali · 03/06/2020 12:18

Catrin is lovely too OP, and goes nicely with Alys.

Original poster

DrowsyDragon · 03/06/2020 10:41

I like the radical suggestions. Going to call her Diamond Star, oh you don’t like that!? How about Anwen? The more DH and I check back here and debate I think we are pretty set on either a Anwen or Catrin. But we have til October. Thank you all!

OP posts:

airedailleurs · 03/06/2020 00:12

Teleri
Telyn
Bethan

saturdaynightgin · 02/06/2020 23:53

Menna

Aclh13 · 02/06/2020 23:49

@MikeUniformMike your response was beyond rude, the post isn't about you and I didn't address you did I? I gave alternatives I'm aware not all of the names were specifically Welsh but instead variants, I also hate to be the one to tell you but we're now in a progressive society where unisex and traditional names are acceptable. Stop being a real Karen.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 02/06/2020 22:29

I love Haf as a middle name.

LovelyBranches · 02/06/2020 21:23

My children go to a Welsh medium school, I know a child or children under the age of 5 with these names:

Mari
Awen
Rhianydd
Eleri
Bethan (really cute to see this again)
Gwenno
Betsan
Tesni
Magi
Teleri
Haf
Beca
Carys
Nia
Aneira

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