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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nearly there…Seren

89 replies

grosgirl · 05/08/2022 09:05

I’ve posted before and got some amazing advice. DH and I have a DS called Julian and are due a girl in a couple of months: initially, the one and only name I really liked was Grace but DH was very resistant.

I also quite like Edith, Annabel and Eira.
DH has suggested Elizabeth, Catherine and Constance (nn Connie)

We have a 3 syllable surname.

DH is Welsh, although we live in London and won’t be moving to Wales at any time in the future, and when I was pregnant with Julian, Seren was on our list. We’ve since discounted it because we wouldn’t name a DD ‘Star’ in English…but if we’re never going to live in Wales, it’s not really the same is it? I love the way it sounds and prefer names that don’t end in ‘a’ sounds because they can sound quite ‘common’ in my rather unpleasant Thames Estuary accent.

What do you think? Any and all suggestions welcome!

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Magicmagician · 05/08/2022 10:22

I like Seren, but agree with pp it should really be Serr-en not Serrun, which if you’re in England might be the pronunciation used?

I’m not sure about Julian (very English sounding to me) and Seren (Welsh) together but that could just be me and once they’re here it will probably sound just fine.

toastofthetown · 05/08/2022 10:21

I don’t like Seren at all as a name. It feels awkward, ugly and clunky to me. My favourite names from your list are Eira and Elizabeth. Eira is lovely, but there will be ambiguous pronunciation as it’s a Scandi name as well as a Welsh one (and the Norwegian and Swedish pronunciations differ). I find Forvo a great resource to hear names/words pronounced in different languages. Elizabeth is a classic, and many diminutives don’t have the -a ending you want to avoid.

QuietYou · 05/08/2022 10:13

@DacwMamYnDwad

How should you Eira be pronounced?
I'm not Welsh but moved here as a child and in school it sounded like Ayreh to my English ear.

Original poster
grosgirl · 05/08/2022 09:50

Thanks Amber! Like you, I thought it was a nice nod to her family links to Wales.

Do you mind me asking what you called your son? Just wondering!

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Original poster
grosgirl · 05/08/2022 09:49

Thanks @DacwMamYnDwad I haven’t looked at any Welsh name sites but knew of Seren from my time living in Wales for uni and visits to DH’s family.

The reason I’m slightly conflicted is because I wouldn’t name my child star in English but I do love the sound of Seren and would be counting on what previous posters have said: that English folk are maybe aware of the fact it’s a Welsh name but don’t see it as her being called ‘star’.

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AmberGer · 05/08/2022 09:44

I love it and would have named ds it 10 years ago had he been born a girl.
We're not Welsh but my nan was.
My eldest ds has a Welsh name too.

DacwMamYnDwad · 05/08/2022 09:43

Eira and Seren are both nouns and are equivalent to calling your child Snow or Star. Both are fairly new names - Eira tended to be used for baby girls born in winter or when it is was snowing.

If you are looking at Welsh Baby Names sites, be aware that some of them have dodgy entries. Names ending in -wyn or -yn tend to be for boys, not girls. Names ending in -wen, -en, and -an tend to be for girls.

Original poster
grosgirl · 05/08/2022 09:38

Really reassuring boots, toasted and spidey. Thanks!

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Original poster
grosgirl · 05/08/2022 09:37

This is what I was going for whenwill! Unusual but not in a pretentious or absurd way.

Do we all think Julian and Seren sound okay together?

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Spidey66 · 05/08/2022 09:36

I think it's a beautiful name.(I'm not Welsh, I'm a Londoner if that makes a difference). I was aware it's a Welsh name.

toastedcat · 05/08/2022 09:32

I really love Seren too

Bootsandcat · 05/08/2022 09:31

I know a baby Seren (in England). I thought it’s a lovely name

whenwillthemadnessend · 05/08/2022 09:27

I quote like seren as I'm English and have never heard of it. I highly doubt it will be seen as naff here just unusual but not in a stupid way.

DacwMamYnDwad · 05/08/2022 09:19

Seren is popular in Wales and is said as SERR-enn not Serrun, and it is the word for star, so IMO is naff.
I'd cross Eira off the list as people will say Ira or Ay-ruh.

Catherine, Elizabeth and Constance are all OK.
Not keen on Annabel - too many Isabel(les)s and Isabellas.
I can't see any appeal in the name Edith.
Grace is too popular as a middle name.

I'd pick a welsh girl's name and use it as a middle name.

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