Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on Taliesin?

113 replies

NCforbabyname · 30/08/2022 20:56

DH has proposed this as a middle name for DS. I'm on the fence as our surname gets a lot of 'how do you spell that?' and is often mispronounced.

DS' first name is in the top 100 (as of 2020) although I've never met someone with his name but it is quite easily spelt and pronounced.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
wobblyweasel · 31/08/2022 14:26

It’s my dogs name….. would be ok for a middle name though.

Somelikeitcool · 31/08/2022 14:24

South Wales first language Welsh speaker here. Three syllables as per pp's. Tal-yess-in.

Love the name!

itrytomakemyway · 31/08/2022 14:12

Well, as a Welsh speaking household the very few Tals I know pronounce it with four syllables.

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2022 14:08

@itrytomakemyway , @KnickerlessParsons , in Welsh, vowels form diphthongs. Iestyn is Yestin not Ee-ss-tin.

DelphiniumBlue · 31/08/2022 14:02

If you like it, go for it. Middle names can be as unusual as you want, no one uses them IRL. Isn't that the whole point, you can be as out there as you please, and it won't have the adverse effects on the child that t might had you used it as a first name. And even then, if you live in a cosmopolitan area, you are likely to come across lots of children with unfamiliar first names, and the children don't think anything of it.

KnickerlessParsons · 31/08/2022 14:00

Though I agree, it's not an exaggerated ee

KnickerlessParsons · 31/08/2022 13:57

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2022 08:31

@KnickerlessParsons , see wiki

I prefer to go by how all the Taliesins I know say trheir name rather than by Wikipedia.
Also the Taliesin Arts Centre.

itrytomakemyway · 31/08/2022 13:56

Lovely Welsh name. As it is Welsh it is pronounced phonetically so all of the letters are sounded out - Tal -ee- es -in.

CaffiSaliMali · 31/08/2022 13:41

I love it. So did DH, until he realised it was a boys name and not a girls name like he assumed.

For a while my fantasy twin boys names were Aneirin/Aneurin and Taliesin.

If you like Welsh boys names with a bit of history/legend behind them then Aneirin/Anuerin, Osian and Macsen are also nice.

HoratioNightboy · 31/08/2022 12:41

I've loved this name since reading How Green Was My Valley. Pronunciation is not difficult (I'm not Welsh).

DrMadelineMaxwell · 31/08/2022 11:05

I have a welsh middle name and have to spell it out every time but the number of times you have to do that is v small so spelling shouldn't be a prob.
I also have to spell out my first and last name or people get it wrong every time but the middle name thing doesnt bother me.

EleanorShellstrop28 · 31/08/2022 11:01

dressupinyou · 30/08/2022 20:59

I just see Tailspin.

I read it as 'Talisman'. I can't imagine how it's pronounced and I'm usually quite good with this sort of thing. Never heard of it. I don't know how I feel about it. Can't word it out.

Dadaya · 31/08/2022 08:34

Is the child named after Taliesin Jaffe? It’s a very current name because he’s in the public eye, probably on peoples radar a lot more now than it was a few years ago. I like it.

stickygotstuck · 31/08/2022 08:33

It's great.
Obvious Welsh connection, but so what if you're not Welsh?

FWIW I don't think there are many names that are are too out there as a middle name.

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2022 08:31

@KnickerlessParsons , see wiki

Thoughts on Taliesin?
HMReturnsBag · 31/08/2022 08:29

Beautiful, strong name. I love it. I wouldn’t worry about it being unusual- how often do other people have to spell one’s middle name?

Would be good to know the first name. I think it needs another strong name.

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2022 08:22

KnickerlessParsons · 31/08/2022 08:11

It's Tal-ee-ess-in. Not Tal-yess-in.

No it's not.
It's Tal-YESS-in

KnickerlessParsons · 31/08/2022 08:11

It's Tal-ee-ess-in. Not Tal-yess-in.

UseOfWeapons · 31/08/2022 07:18

I like it. I’ve not known a Taliesin in person, only cats, oddly enough.
I would assume that you’re pagan, like me, or Welsh.

Suzy14837 · 31/08/2022 07:18

I like it for a middle name. I think it's a bit much for a first name unless you're in Wales.
As a middle name, it doesn't matter if no one can pronounce it - because the only people likely to ever say it in public are you, your son and the registrar if he gets married!

KatherineJaneway · 31/08/2022 07:08

dressupinyou · 30/08/2022 20:59

I just see Tailspin.

Me too

ThatshallotBaby · 31/08/2022 07:08

I really like it.

ReeseWitherfork · 31/08/2022 07:07

KirstenBlest · 30/08/2022 21:19

@SpringIntoChaos , Tal-YESS-in (Tal like in Tally)

Oh so no Tally-sin?! Guess that makes sense if it’s welsh. Wouldn’t have guessed that pronunciation if I saw it written down (and didn’t!) and wouldn’t guess that spelling if I just heard it.

ReeseWitherfork · 31/08/2022 07:05

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 30/08/2022 21:11

Unfortunately I misread it and thought it said taliban.

Me too and I’m really glad I’m not the only one.

Onceuponatimethen · 31/08/2022 07:03

I remember Taliesin from the Susan Cooper children’s series The Dark is Rising.

A beautiful name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread