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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can't decide on boys name in twins

33 replies

Thunderbear89 · 01/01/2024 13:55

We're currently expecting b-g twins and are struggling to agree on a boys name.

We have a son named Torben (which is Scandinavian), though one of us is English and the other Welsh and we live in Wales.

We've pretty much settled on the girls name being Eira (pronounced aye-rah) however, we can't agree on the boys name.

One of us likes Gideon, and the other likes Aneurin (pronounced an-eye-rin) as our prefered options, for different reasons.

We've considered loads of other names but nothing really stands out to us, so wanted to test the water which what other people think might suit better?

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GogLais · 01/01/2024 15:23

@Thunderbear89 , I didn't describe the 'eu' as it has no English equivalent.
I don't say A -neigh-rin or An-eye-rin or An-yur-in Hmm

The Ei in Eira is a very short sound, much shorter than in Ava.

eu is saying e and u very close to each other so that it's a new sound
the e is like the e in 'egg', the u is like the i in 'this'. The e+u is one syllable.

Something like An-IRRin, but there is a short 'eh' before the 'i'.

If you are in South Wales, your pronunciations will not seem unusual.
If you are in 'Y Fro Gymraeg' they will probably use the Welsh pronunciation.

EarthyMangold · 01/01/2024 15:08

I think Eira and Aneurin is harder to say than Eira and Gideon, so if it's between these two, I would go with Gideon.

Original poster
Thunderbear89 · 01/01/2024 15:03

I've had more of a look and presume you may be pronouncing it A-neigh-rin? If it is, then that isn't how we would like to pronounce it, so that is just personal preference. Other threads about the name pronounce it predominantly as An-eye-rin, and it would be helpful if you could have provided more explanation as asked but nevermind.

In any case, for clarity for anybody else to give their views we would pronounce them as:

Eira (Ey-ra)
Aneurin (An-eye-rin)

Would still appreciate thoughts between Gideon and Aneurin!

OP posts:
GogLais · 01/01/2024 14:46

u isn't pronounced as an i by Welsh speakers.

Original poster
Thunderbear89 · 01/01/2024 14:38

Re Eira, I think the way I've written out the pronounciation may come across as incorrect, it is Ey-ra as you've put.

Re Aneurin, the only two ways we are aware of saying it are the American way An-yur-in (which we wouldn't use) or the Welsh way as written above (as u is pronounced as an i so would be the ei sound).

Appreciate its not straightforward to explain the pronouncations, but how else would you be saying Aneurin?

OP posts:
GogLais · 01/01/2024 14:17

@BungleandGeorge , given the pronunciations given, I'd say not.

Eira is the Welsh word for snow, and is EY-ra (Short Ey) but the name also gets said as EYE-ra in South Wales.
Aneurin is harder to transcribe because the 'eu' has no equivalent sound in English.

If they are in North Wales, the locals won't be saying Eye-ra and An-eye-rin

BungleandGeorge · 01/01/2024 14:09

I’d go for aneurin (presumably the Welsh parent is pronouncing it correctly!). I’m not keen on Gideon personally

GogLais · 01/01/2024 14:06

Eira isn't pronounced Aye-ra and Aneurin isn't An-eye-rin. Said properly, they are nice names.