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Baby names

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

Original poster

Welsh names

84 replies

Sorrento79 · 20/07/2023 13:20

We're expecting our first baby in dec/jan
My partner is welsh and so were my grandparents and we are looking into welsh names
they really like dafyd, which is a good name in wales but I suspect may become daffy like the duck in england
welsh girls names seem easier somehow, more familiar/easy spelling and pronunciation, so any ideas for boy names?

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5
MrsMoastyToasty · 22/07/2023 19:27

Ieuan
Arwel
Ioan

Angharad
Bethan

My dad had a welsh colleague called Tudor, which I thought was cool name.

Slicedpeaches · 22/07/2023 19:25

I met a Rhydian recently and liked that.

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 19:12

@sunglassesonthetable , that's a nice list of names. I have a soft spot for Caleb pronounced the Welsh way.

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 19:10

Thank you, @RhosynBach .

@Abhannmor , I think some smartarse would link Illtud/Illtyd with Twit.

RhosynBach · 22/07/2023 14:36

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 22/07/2023 08:48

@DaNiYmaOHyd

Well i work with Daffydd spelt like that so maybe you are not always right?

daniymaohyd is right when it comes to welsh names. Dafydd is not spelt daffydd. If someone has spelt it that way then they’ve spelt it wrong. Ff and f are different letters in welsh

sunglassesonthetable · 22/07/2023 14:30

Taliesin
Gwion
Ioan
Owain
Caleb
Macsen
Tomos
Caio

Such lovely names

Whataretheodds · 22/07/2023 14:28

A lot of the baby name websites have some absolute nonsense under the welsh/celtic names sections.

Abhannmor · 22/07/2023 14:22

Carwyn
Illtyd

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 14:10

Lestyn an Lolo aren't Welsh names either, but Iestyn and Iolo both are.
Iestyn is the welsh form of Justin, Iolo, Iorwerth and Iori ar forms of Edward, I think.
I like Mostyn.

pambeeslyhalpert2 · 22/07/2023 13:49

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 12:44

@pambeeslyhalpert2 , Aneira is Ann+eira, and was used as a feminine form of Aneurin for the first baby born after NHS came into being.
The 'lots of snow' made me smile though - Eira tended to be used for daughters born in snowy weather.

Sorry I got it from this! I'm seeing her everywhere atm because of the nhs anniversary, I do really like the name

Welsh names
Kaaardiffgalnow · 22/07/2023 13:18

I love Osian too, but when I worked with an Osian, he'd often be called Ocean by monoglot English speakers who didn't know him.

CaffiSaliMali · 22/07/2023 12:47

Mabli is lovely for a girl. My top girls choice is Alys. I love Eira, Mari and Tesni too. There's already a Ffion in the family so I can't use it sadly.

Nia is nice but Osian is my favourite boys name which is why Nia is off my list.

I like Dafydd a lot but the english side of the family would definitely mispronounce as 'Daff-id'.

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 12:44

@pambeeslyhalpert2 , Aneira is Ann+eira, and was used as a feminine form of Aneurin for the first baby born after NHS came into being.
The 'lots of snow' made me smile though - Eira tended to be used for daughters born in snowy weather.

pambeeslyhalpert2 · 22/07/2023 12:35

I have a Mabli and always get compliments on her name. It really suits her too. I'm struggling for another Welsh girl name tho so following! Names I like but can't use

Ffion
Megan
Eira- means snow
Aneira- lots of snow. I think
Enfys- rainbow
Alys

Boys-

Idris
Aled
Griff

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 12:30

I agree with you @StillWantingADog. Also -un, -yn -en and -on said as -un (e.g. Alun, Alyn, Bethan, Seren, Manon)
and I particularly dislike Eleri said as El-airy (unless it is due to accent).

Ohjustboreoff · 22/07/2023 11:50

Lestyn
Hefin
Lolo
Trystan

Trystan is my favourite!

StillWantingADog · 22/07/2023 11:24

Sorrento79 · 22/07/2023 06:58

Eleri
Ffion
Megan
Myfanwy

I like these but Eleri and Megan are never prounounced properly and it does my head in (native welsh speaker).

el-EH-ri (with a rolling r) not Ellory
MEG-ann not Meg-uhn.

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 11:20

@Mamofteenager , I agree with you. If little Pheobe's or Febe's parents aren't first-language Latin speakers then they can spell the name as they wish. Their prerogative.

StillWantingADog · 22/07/2023 11:18

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 21/07/2023 02:46

Daffydd is a lovely name! Dav for short. Meirion.

Except it’s not Daffydd or Dafyd.

the name is Dafydd and it’s constantly misspelt

DaNiYmaOHyd · 22/07/2023 11:16

Those are nice names, @Sorrento79 . Myfanwy is not used much but the song is lovely. I'm not sure that Megan is of Welsh origin, but it is used, often as a diminutive of Margaret.

From your list, I would suggest: Gethin, Osian, Rhys, Huw, Dylan, Steffan, Iestyn, Elis, Harri, Jac, Morgan, Iwan, Bryn, Glyn, Wyn, Aled, Tomos, Idris, Gareth, Dewi (like Derry said by Jonathan Ross)
The list is a bit 'safe' and some of the names no longer much used for babies, and pronunciations (and spellings) will vary. I really dislike Rhys and Dylan said as Rees and Dillun.

Or for anglicised Welsh names: Lloyd, Vaughan, Owen, Evan

I could suggest lots of names but I think they'd get mangled or something.

Mamofteenager · 22/07/2023 10:48

@Kaaardiffgalnow do you really think a child is going to have a lifetime of ridicule over the spelling of a name? Also looking at the post I'm not sure OP lives in Wales therefore how many people would even know if not spelt the traditional way

NancyJoan · 22/07/2023 10:45

thinking about boys we know:

Morgan
Gethin
Gareth
Geraint
Owen
Owain
Lewys
Alun

NancyJoan · 22/07/2023 10:42

llareggub · 22/07/2023 10:36

I’ve always loved Iestyn, ever since I read Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell

nye is possible as a nn if you go for Aneurin

i also like Taliesin.

I work with a Iestyn, he’s such a nice man.

Kaaardiffgalnow · 22/07/2023 10:42

Mamofteenager · 22/07/2023 10:30

It might be phonetic but if Welsh is not your 1st language you may wish to spell it however you want. After all it's your own prerogative

Just felt that it was no need to point out spellings and try to belittle others who were only making suggestions. If OP liked the name she could have googled the correct/traditional versions

Chances are that the OP wouldn't Google it though, then she really would open up her child to a lifetime of ridicule with a wrongly-spelled name!