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Baby names

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

Original poster

Welsh name for a boy?

144 replies

Pittapatta · 30/10/2020 15:56

I'm having a boy in January and live in Wales. I would like to pick a Welsh boys name. I was thinking off Llion. What do you think?

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MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 21:25

Meurig - welsh for Maurice.

Original poster
Pittapatta · 30/10/2020 21:24

And the closest English name is Leon but with the Welsh LL and the difference in sound that letter makes.

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 21:24

Merion - It's Meirion
Emlyn - fine
Eirian - unisex, but more often a woman's name
Wyn - can be used as a unisex middle name, but was overpopular in the mid 20th century
Alun - will be called Alan by the non Welsh-speakers.
Efion - it's Eifion.
Meurig

Original poster
Pittapatta · 30/10/2020 21:22

Veterinari how would you say it? Thats the pronounciation I've known my whole life having lived in Wales for 35years. What makes you think I can't pronounce it?

I think it's important to think how names will be shortened or mispronounced as if I didn't like these then it could become frustrating. It would be strange for me to like the name Llion but dislike Leon.

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 21:21

Gwilym is quite trendy now, it used to be underused with Wiliam/William being very popular. Watch out for transposed vowels. He'll get Gwylim quite often.

I like the name a lot.

My younger Welsh-speaking relatives have very welsh names, and most of the names that are suggested on here seem quite old-fashioned.

NiceGerbil · 30/10/2020 21:20

I've just been googling 'Llywarch' to see how it's pronounced and assuming that the ll sound is like Llandudno (the ll is not a sound I can make) the internet gives appalling advice ☹️

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 30/10/2020 21:18

I like
Cian
Caradog/Caradoc
Emyr (only the annoying woman at work call him Amir)
Llyr

NothingIsWrong · 30/10/2020 21:14

I have a Gwilym - generally people manage the pronunciation OK.

Veterinari · 30/10/2020 21:14

@Pittapatta

It's pronounced Llee-onn so very similar sounding to Leon
I'm just wondering if you and your DH can actually pronounce this name? As neither of you are native welsh speakers and you don't mind the name being bangles, then why bother with a welsh name if you're unlikely to actually pronounce it/use it properly?
HairyToity · 30/10/2020 21:13

I'm originally from Shropshire and been living just over border in East Wales for last ten years. I can pronounce most welsh names, but now and again there is one that throws me. In choosing a welsh name, for me it had to be easy to pronounce. If we were welsh speakers, and lived further into Wales, pronunciation would never have been a consideration.

lofthouse · 30/10/2020 21:09

Oh and I agree avoid Dylan at all costs, never pronounced correctly

lofthouse · 30/10/2020 21:07

I have two boys with welsh names - both of which feature above (although I think one has just been called OTT). I also have an easy to mispronounce welsh name. Honestly, I would think carefully about a double Ll. (though I love Llew and Llyr).

Others from me:

Merion,
Emlyn
Eirian
Wyn
Alun
Efion
Meurig

NiceGerbil · 30/10/2020 21:07

I was reading with interest (as an English person) and then came to Idris and sleb thing. But as pointed out by a PP, the most famous Idris is surely Idris the dragon? If you are of a certain age 😃

Out of interest and not to derail too much. What is the Welsh opinion of Ivor the engine? I loved it and still make 'pssh-t-koff' engine noises at the kids and reminisce about how Ivor got to sing with the choir, and how there was a dragon, and Jones the steam and dai the station master etc... I think a whole generation of English children loved it.

If you're Welsh though, what do you think? Was it good or rubbish.

MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 21:04

Dyfrig is lovely. I like Owain too.

Ifan will get E-van or Ee-vanne, Evan and Iffun.

HairyToity · 30/10/2020 21:02

I love Dyfrig, and it's an easy one to pronounce Duf-rig

MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 21:01

I'm Welsh, and that's not how I make the ll sound.
I put my tongue against my back teeth and nowhere near my front teeth.
Me too.

HairyToity · 30/10/2020 21:00

Ilan
Ifan
Owain
Dyfrig
Rhys

JaJaDingDong · 30/10/2020 20:59

I'm Welsh, and that's not how I make the ll sound.
I put my tongue against my back teeth and nowhere near my front teeth.

WorriedMummy2020 · 30/10/2020 20:55

To pronounce the Welsh 'll', put the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth and blow / hiss gently so that air escapes at the sides of your tongue.

MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 20:50

Morgan is a good welsh name.
Eifion will be called Avian. It's a nice name. Bit of a grandad name.

espressoontap · 30/10/2020 20:50

I have always loved Iestyn and Gethin

MikeUniformMike · 30/10/2020 20:47

Not close enough.

Dylan isn't Dull'un. it's Dullan an sound is like the an in can.

Cattenberg · 30/10/2020 20:43

I pronounce the Welsh ll as hl. How close is that?

I have a Welsh name and a few years ago, I met a Welsh person who said it was normally pronounced a different way. I have been pronouncing my own name wrong all my life.

My favourite Welsh boys’ name is Dylan, but I only like the English pronunciation. Dull’un sounds unflattering in English.

roara · 30/10/2020 20:38

Ianto

BillysMyBunny · 30/10/2020 20:30

I like it, it will likely be mispronounced by people outside of Wales and those within it who didn’t grow up there but as you said, that’s likely to be the case with many Welsh names.

My favourite Welsh boys names are Eifion, Idris, Emrys, Taliesin and Elwyn.

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