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Baby names

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Original poster

Celtic-ish names

44 replies

galaxyfairy · 23/06/2021 12:12

We like the names on our list so far, but I'm wondering if I've missed any that are on a similar vein to the ones we have chosen, that we might like even more. Both myself and DP were born, brought up and live in Scotland, my mum is Welsh and dad Cornish, and DP's family are Irish, so the names we have chosen reflect this.
DP really hates names that are too 'charactery' (so sadly veto'd Antigone, Gaia and Arietty Sad). We also liked Freya but felt it was just a bit too popular.

Girl names
Cariad, Welsh
Elowen, Cornish

Boy names
Elwyn, Welsh
Oisin (Irish), or Oisean (Scottish) - pronounced Osh-een (Like Roisin but without the R)

Any similar, lovely names that we might have missed, that tie to our heritage and wouldn't be too tricky for people in Scotland to remember/pronounce? Smile

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DacwMamYnDwad · 24/06/2021 09:29

@Pigeonorcoot, you'll probably find that it was originally Llanismael, many welsh villages have anglicised names, with the original names being forgotten.

I wouldn't use Ismael because I know a child with the name, so associate it as being a muslim name, and I'm not a muslim.

Pigeonorcoot · 24/06/2021 09:20

@DacwMamYnDwad yes that's right. The church (and village) in Pembrokeshire is St Ishmael's though, and personally I like that spelling better.

Whaddado · 23/06/2021 23:43

Kinvara for a girl

Mammymar · 23/06/2021 23:27

Réalta, means Star in Irish

Mammymar · 23/06/2021 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Heartofglass12345 · 23/06/2021 18:47

Haha I think my son might be one of them, his name is Ellis Grin

MadeForThis · 23/06/2021 18:00

Oran
Sean
Caolan
Daire
Cahir
Fíonnan
Aodhan
Cormac
Ciaran
Enda
Rian
Roan
Cillian

Caitlin
Ríona
Clíodhna
Léana
Saoirse
Róise
Meábh
Caoimhe
Niamh
Ríonach

DacwMamYnDwad · 23/06/2021 17:52
Smile
Ellmau · 23/06/2021 17:51

Guinevere

Cormac

Merchymor · 23/06/2021 17:47

Yes @DacwMamYnDwad it's the anglicisation that bothers me the most.

(When I see your username I sing it in my head!)

DacwMamYnDwad · 23/06/2021 17:36

I feel it is a bit like cultural appropriation too, especially when the names are anglicised in their pronunciation.

I think the same about names from other languages, not just Welsh.

Elodie, Orla and Ottilie etc all sound so much nicer in their original languages.

DacwMamYnDwad · 23/06/2021 17:24

Dean isn't Welsh, it's English.

Merchymor · 23/06/2021 17:15

[quote Heartofglass12345]@Merchymor you could say that about any language really, I can see what you're saying though
[/quote]
Yes, I agree and I know I'm being precious about it. It just irritates me but that's my problem!

I guess it feels like cultural appropriation.

I don't want to give any examples in case I offend anyone! Grin

Heartofglass12345 · 23/06/2021 17:10

@Merchymor you could say that about any language really, I can see what you're saying though

DacwMamYnDwad · 23/06/2021 17:10

Got any examples, Merchymor?

There was a thread recently that had Caru on it. Poster said it was pronounced Carry - it isn't.

Nannyamc · 23/06/2021 17:09

Dean..Welsh leader
Fionnaula.. irish beauty

Heartofglass12345 · 23/06/2021 17:09

My favourite welsh names for girls are Nia, Seren (very common in wales at the moment though), Erin, Gwenllian (but I suspect she would end up gwenleanne if people don't know how to pronounce) Eira is welsh for snow, Eirlys is welsh for snowdrop

I have an Osian (pronounced oshanne)
There are lots of nice welsh names just depends on where you live and if people will be able to pronounce them.

The same with Scottish and Irish names I suppose Smile

OnGoldenPond · 23/06/2021 17:04

I love Rhiannon for a girl, heroine of the Mabinogion (ancient collection of Welsh mythology). Possibly Rhi for short?

Merchymor · 23/06/2021 17:02

Cariad is the kind of name an English person or non Welsh speaker would give their child, it's not a traditional name.

There are so many so-called Welsh names that are just made up nonsense these days and it really grates on me.

But if that's not something that bothers you then then fair enough.

DacwMamYnDwad · 23/06/2021 16:57

@Pigeonorcoot, I think the Welsh saint was Ismael. St Ishmael is the anglicised name.
In the Bible, Ishmael was Abraham's son, Ismael is the arabic version.

CaffiSaliMali · 23/06/2021 16:45

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/04/cornish-names.html

Some Cornish names. I like Costentyn, Jago and Massen for boys in particular.

For some reason only Cornish names got their own list of the Celtic languages on British Baby Names but they have 3 name lists from a mix of Celtic languages:

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/11/clunky-celtic.html

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/10/cool-celtic.html

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/10/cosy-celtic.html

CaffiSaliMali · 23/06/2021 16:39

Morven
Ishbel
Eilidh

Alys (Alice)
Eira (EY-ra, ey as in hey and ra as in rabbit)
Elin
Eleri (El-erry, rhymes with Terry, not celery)
Carys
Nerys
Nia (NEE-ah)
Mali (Malley, Welsh for Molly)
Mari (Marry, one of several Welsh versions of Mary)
Aneira
Mabli (Welsh for Mabel)
Tesni (TESS-nee, means 'the warmth from the sun, possibly the Welsh name with the loveliest meaning)
Morwenna - (Welsh and Cornish. In Welsh the r is rolled - MORR-wenna, I believe in Cornwall it is pronounced as it looks - More-wenna).
Nansi (Nancy)

Esyllt is my favourite Welsh name but it's very tricky to say due to the letter Ll. It's Welsh for Iseult. Iseult and the Cornish version Eseld (Ez-eld) are also lovely.

For boys:
Osian (shame your DH doesn't agree)
Tomos (Welsh for Thomas, both the Os are a short O, like in moss)
Macsen (MAX-en, (en as in hen), in Welsh Magnus Maximus is known as Macsen Wledig)
Aled (bit old fashioned but easy to say)
Idris
Emrys (Welsh for Ambrose)
Emlyn
Harri (Harry)

MadameOvary81 · 23/06/2021 16:13

Jura for a little girl?

Pigeonorcoot · 23/06/2021 16:05

(sorry, I think it's actually Hebrew rather than Arabic)

Pigeonorcoot · 23/06/2021 15:59

Idris
Ishmael (Arabic, but also a Welsh saint and I love it)

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