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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is name this too out-there or strange?

108 replies

Katypop2 · 08/10/2022 13:20

My baby girl is due on the 22nd and I still haven’t chosen a name for her. The other day I was looking at baby names and came across the name Braelynn. I really like it and I think it is very pretty. It can also be spelled with one N but I prefer the spelling with two as I think it looks more complete. She could be Brae for short. The only problem is, it happens to be a very unusual name and I think people would struggle to spell it. Also which spelling do you prefer, Braelynn or Braelyn? Should I stay away from uncommon names that are hard to spell? My backup names are Ava, Lexi, Lily and Amelia (ik very basic/common but I don’t care about the popularity that much).

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KirstenBlest · 11/10/2022 16:06

Bryn is the Welsh word for hill. It is also used as a man's name.
You wouldn't say 'going down the bryn'.
The name is a bit middle aged but it's nice, as is Glyn (valley).

BorisDaBest2019 · 10/10/2022 21:41

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SO1926 · 10/10/2022 21:38

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Dinoteeth · 10/10/2022 21:25

Google says Bryn is hill of Welsh origin. Maybe people in Wales do talk about 'going down the bryn'.

Dinoteeth · 10/10/2022 21:22

timoteigirl · 10/10/2022 20:42

but doesn't the boy's name Bryn also have the meaning 'hill'?

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I haven't a clue about Bryn. I've never heard that in use.

But I've heard Brae in common use as in 'go down or up the brae' and sometimes in directions "head over the wilderness brae"

ArticSaviour · 10/10/2022 20:46

In the north east, bray means to hit someone - If you do that again. I'll bray you.

timoteigirl · 10/10/2022 20:42

Dinoteeth · 10/10/2022 06:21

Brae means hill to me too. Not sure I'd call a child it.
You also have to think 12 year old boy sense of humour BRAe

but doesn't the boy's name Bryn also have the meaning 'hill'?

NC12345665 · 10/10/2022 15:56

user375242 · 08/10/2022 15:33

I think it sounds very teen mum. (I say that as someone who has a child with a teen mum name and I regret it). What about Aubrey, Bryony, Briar, Caitlin, Marilyn. They have similar sounds.

Aubrey was the most popular name on the MTV Teen Mom show.

Pinkdelight3 · 10/10/2022 11:29

Sounds like Brolene (the eyedrops). Much prefer your back-up names.

DuchessOfSausage · 10/10/2022 11:26

Braelynn doesn't look remotely welsh. Brae occurs in some scottish placenames like Braemar. Some name sites say that Lyn(n/nne) is from Welsh, and I think that's a bit of a myth.

I agree with @chaosagent about the welsh/celtic name website making up names, origins and meanings.

OctopusBreath · 10/10/2022 11:11

Welsh speaker here. It really does not sound anything like Briallen, and even if it is based on that, do you really want to name your child after a serious mispronounciation of a word in a language you don't speak?
Also, many many people will think "bray like a donkey" though most will be too polite to say it.

chaosagent · 10/10/2022 10:57

It doesn't appeal to me and I think it would sound very American on a British baby. It's also a made-up name - I am not buying the supposed Welsh origin. Lots of baby name websites just make up meanings and origins, especially for invented American names, and for whatever reason, it's extremely common for these websites to ascribe a "Celtic" or "Gaelic" origin to made-up names (perhaps because Celtic languages have so few speakers, there aren't many people to call them out on their BS!). If Braelynn really was Welsh, then it would have a documented history of use in Wales and it would probably be connected with a saint or cultural figure - which it is not.

Mouk · 10/10/2022 10:31

I dislike it, sorry.

Like a tonne of American names where they stick Lynn onto the end of it. Sounds made up.

Picklewicklepickle · 10/10/2022 09:19

My name means “field” and was derived from a surname, only really becoming popular in the 80s, I don’t particularly like it but no one questions the validity of it!

Dinoteeth · 10/10/2022 06:21

Brae means hill to me too. Not sure I'd call a child it.
You also have to think 12 year old boy sense of humour BRAe

Mercurial123 · 10/10/2022 05:26

Braelyn

Braelyn(n) is another example of an American invention and therefore has no distinct meaning or cultural background. It was coined in the 21st century (2006) most likely inspired by the pleasant sound created through the combination of syllables. Also, the “-lyn(n)” suffix is quite trendy (Brooklyn, Katelyn, Jocelyn, Madelyn, etc). It is possible (although doubtful) that Braelyn was inspired by a modern Welsh female name Briallen which comes from the Celtic “briallu” meaning "primrose".

Mercurial123 · 10/10/2022 05:21

Enko · 09/10/2022 19:09

I like Braelynn and I prefer it to the dull predictable names you have as back up.

You are in the minority. I wouldn't give my child a name that was unpopular and does sound a bit made up. But I'm boring.

VeridicalVagabond · 10/10/2022 01:20

VERY trailer trash. I can just hear it being literally brayed in a thick southern accent across a strip mall at some screaming hellion.

Longdarkcloud · 10/10/2022 00:29

How about Briar or Bryony?

Enko · 09/10/2022 19:09

I like Braelynn and I prefer it to the dull predictable names you have as back up.

DoingJustFine · 09/10/2022 15:50

Nope. I'd avoid any names using "ae". Give her a pretty name that she has some chance of finding on a purse in a gift shop.

lanbro · 09/10/2022 15:42

I like it, not out there and Brae is fine and won't be likened to a donkey. I've managed to get through life being called Lou without getting likened to a toilet! My dd gets her unusual name shortened to Brom, which is obviously an odd word on it's own but has never caused any comment as her name.

I think Braelynn is far, far nicer than any others on your list!

timoteigirl · 09/10/2022 15:30

NO to Amelia please don't so boring. YES to Braelyn, prefer with one N.

TrashyPanda · 09/10/2022 09:05

As said above, brae = hill.

for some reason, Braelynn looks rather ugly written down. Maybe it reminds me of Benelin?

Shoopshoopshoopshoopshoop · 09/10/2022 06:50

I actually really like Brae! I’m all for slightly different names and Brie is pretty common. Don’t like the lynn bit though, that’s what gives it the American vibe (nothing wrong with that if you like it, just not my taste).