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Baby names

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

Original poster

Enid, pronounced the Welsh way as "enn-id"

65 replies

Cwningen · 11/07/2021 23:56

We'd like the name Enid for our baby girl, pronounced the Welsh way as "enn-id" rather than the English way "ee-nid". We live in an area of Wales where around 40% of people are Welsh speakers including myself, and we want a Welsh name but one that is not unpronounceable to non-Welsh speakers. So what are your opinions on Enid? Thank you.

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allthegoodusernameshavegone · 12/07/2021 07:03

I love that pronunciation, why don’t you spell it Ennid?

AllThatGlistensIs · 12/07/2021 06:51

I’m Welsh. Our pronunciation of it is gorgeous I agree, but I think you need to be realistic in that a few, far larger number of people will call her by the more common English version. It’s going to become very frustrating for her very very quickly to have to spend the rest of her life correcting people.

Thatsallivegot · 12/07/2021 02:21

Valleys girl here.
I'd say Ee-nid. I've not heard of En-id.

Original poster
Cwningen · 12/07/2021 02:14

It seems from the rest of your answers that in the Welsh-speaking areas of South Wales, you typically hear only the English pronunciation of Enid, which I'm a bit surprised by. In Welsh-speaking areas of the North, Enid pronounced the Welsh way is not an uncommon name.

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Original poster
Cwningen · 12/07/2021 02:08

@FlumpyPoodle

Your pronunciation is so much more appealing and if most people where she'll grow up will pronounce it that way I'd say go for it. I personally would hate (as in really, really, hate) to be called Enid with the more commonly known pronunciation and I think it's inevitable she'll get a fair amount of that throughout her life. But if that's not a big deal to you then it's not an issue.
p.s. I meant to quote your post in my last reply, but it still works as a reply to DramaAlpaca's post :)
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Rno3gfr · 12/07/2021 01:52

I’m fluent Welsh from South Wales and I’ve never heard it pronounced like that either. If I saw her name I would probably pronounce it the English way, although I can pronounce it the Welsh way.

My son has a Welsh name that can be pronounced in two different ways, it’s not a big deal. I let people go with their accent (including my own mum who has a different Welsh speaking dialect to me!!).

SilentPanic · 12/07/2021 01:50

Lovely! I'm from the same area as you and am also a Welsh speaker, but I've worked in south Wales and have only ever heard it pronounced your way by Welsh speakers.
Enw hyfryd! Daffodil

Time40 · 12/07/2021 01:46

I think both versions are lovely (I may be biased, as my mum was called Enid)

Original poster
Cwningen · 12/07/2021 01:42

@DramaAlpaca

Pronounced the Welsh way it's fabulous - simple and strong and I love it.

The English way, not so much - frumpy as anything.

I agree the Welsh pronunciation sounds so much nicer. Where we live, the Welsh pronunciation is heard more than the English. However, outside of Welsh-speaking areas of Wales, that would probably not be the case. We'd prefer she doesn't end up being frequently called by the English pronunciation but I don't think it would stop us choosing this name for her.
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Original poster
Cwningen · 12/07/2021 01:39

@LovelyBranches

I’m Welsh and a Welsh speaker and I’m not familiar with this way of pronouncing Enid. It may be a north/South thing.
I'm surprised to hear that. I'm from the North West of Wales, where it is not uncommon to find girls called Enid (pronounced the Welsh way). Are you from the South?
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LovelyBranches · 12/07/2021 00:04

I’m Welsh and a Welsh speaker and I’m not familiar with this way of pronouncing Enid. It may be a north/South thing.

DramaAlpaca · 12/07/2021 00:04

Pronounced the Welsh way it's fabulous - simple and strong and I love it.

The English way, not so much - frumpy as anything.

FlumpyPoodle · 12/07/2021 00:02

Your pronunciation is so much more appealing and if most people where she'll grow up will pronounce it that way I'd say go for it. I personally would hate (as in really, really, hate) to be called Enid with the more commonly known pronunciation and I think it's inevitable she'll get a fair amount of that throughout her life. But if that's not a big deal to you then it's not an issue.

jclm · 11/07/2021 23:58

So beautiful

MrsFin · 11/07/2021 23:57

Love it.