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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby Girl Names - Possibly Welsh/Celtic

55 replies

fr4zzledmum · 07/01/2024 09:16

I don't know the gender of our baby yet, but we already have a DD with a Welsh name (we live in Wales, DH & DD are Welsh, I'm English).

I'm finding thinking of girls' names a lot easier than boys but can't settle on my favourite yet. Most are Welsh/celtic.

Currently have:

Celyn
Della
Ffion
Eirlys
Olwen
Haf
Enaid

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GogLais · 08/01/2024 13:02

@cariadlet , yes, I'm sure. I know quite a few Welsh Elwyns and Alwyns, and the names are of English origin. They're nice enough names, but of their time.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the -wyn and -wen names were everywhere.

The -wyn in Elwyn and Alwyn are from the same root as the -win in Edwin, Baldwin, Godwin, Darwin etc and means friend.

@loadedchips , I don't like filler middle names. Rose, May, Grace are ok as first names but predictable as middle names.

Even if the 'filler' is the mother or grandmother's name, it seems like it's a middle name for the sake of a middle name.

Summer as a name seems a bit naff to me, but maybe because it seems new. The Hafs I know are older than me so maybe that's why it seems normal.

BeastAngelMadwoman · 08/01/2024 12:59

cariadlet · 08/01/2024 12:28

@GogLais Are you sure Elwyn isn't a Welsh name?
It was my Dad's name. He was born in Wales to Welsh parents who wanted to give him a traditional Welsh name.
That was in the 1940s so it would have had to have been a name that his parents were familiar with.

I’m Welsh with an Uncle Elwyn so I’d describe it as Welsh yeah

loadedchips · 08/01/2024 12:32

@BeastAngelMadwoman
Be my guest. Not sure why you would do that though. I'm entitled to my opinion thank you

loadedchips · 08/01/2024 12:31

GogLais · 08/01/2024 11:53

@loadedchips , I think it's a nice name but only know of about 3 with it as a first name. I know a few Hafwens (aged 60+)
If it was silly, it wouldn't be so popular as a middle name.

So those who speak English can dislike first or filler names like rose /May but if you speak welsh you are not allowed to dislike welsh first or filler names like Haf. I think you will find i can like or dislike whatever I want thank you

cariadlet · 08/01/2024 12:28

@GogLais Are you sure Elwyn isn't a Welsh name?
It was my Dad's name. He was born in Wales to Welsh parents who wanted to give him a traditional Welsh name.
That was in the 1940s so it would have had to have been a name that his parents were familiar with.

BeastAngelMadwoman · 08/01/2024 12:28

loadedchips · 08/01/2024 10:33

Welsh and English doesn't always exactly translate

So names like Haf is silly. Yes it is the word for summer but silly

What about....

Lowri
Bethan
Sian
Nia
Catrin

I better tell the many, many Hafs I know that their name is silly then.

Original poster
fr4zzledmum · 08/01/2024 11:57

@GogLais
The -wen names tend to be the names of 80 or 90 yr olds.
Lots of my aunties' and great aunts' names

Haha, we have a soon to be 5 year old -wen already.

OP posts:
GogLais · 08/01/2024 11:53

@loadedchips , I think it's a nice name but only know of about 3 with it as a first name. I know a few Hafwens (aged 60+)
If it was silly, it wouldn't be so popular as a middle name.

loadedchips · 08/01/2024 11:22

GogLais · 08/01/2024 11:11

@loadedchips , Haf isn't silly and has been used as a girl's name for a long time. Haf is a popular middle name, but seems a bit like Rose/May/Grace in that it's a filler middle name.

Haf might be a bit silly for a girl born in the winter.

Edited

You have your opinion and I have mine

GogLais · 08/01/2024 11:11

@loadedchips , Haf isn't silly and has been used as a girl's name for a long time. Haf is a popular middle name, but seems a bit like Rose/May/Grace in that it's a filler middle name.

Haf might be a bit silly for a girl born in the winter.

loadedchips · 08/01/2024 10:33

Welsh and English doesn't always exactly translate

So names like Haf is silly. Yes it is the word for summer but silly

What about....

Lowri
Bethan
Sian
Nia
Catrin

GogLais · 08/01/2024 09:57

@cariadlet , as @LydiaTomos pp, Olwyn is a misspelling. It has been used as a girl's name but it's awful.
Elwyn is a boy's name but not of Welsh origin.

It would have been like naming her sweetheart or darling.
or girlfriend/boyfriend, charity, love.
There's a comedian/actress with it as a first name and her name is how you'd say ''Lloyd's girlfriend"

@GMH1974 , @soundsys , Ceridwen tends to get said as Cridwen, which isn't particularly pretty. I don't think I'd like to get called Crid.
Elowen is often suggested and I think it would probably get said with the stress on the wrong syllable. It's nice but sounds like L. Owen.

CaffiSaliMali · 08/01/2024 08:25

Unfortunately the 2022 baby name stats (still) haven't been released yet.

However, Welsh names popular in 2021 were names like:

Mali
Efa
Ffion
Alys
Cadi
Seren
Eira
Nansi

Mari, Eleri and Tesni are also lovely. Oh, and Catrin.

From your list I really like Ffion.

cariadlet · 07/01/2024 22:53

@LLydiaTomos I've seen both the Olwyn and Olwen spelling although happy to accept that the one may have been used incorrectly.

LydiaTomos · 07/01/2024 22:39

@Julen7 Sorry, missed that.

@cariadlet Olwen is a Welsh girls name. Olwyn is the Welsh word for wheel.

Julen7 · 07/01/2024 22:10

LydiaTomos · 07/01/2024 22:07

Elowen is not a Welsh name either. Elwen and Alwen are both Welsh girls names. Both pretty names.

i thought OP said Welsh or Celtic

cariadlet · 07/01/2024 22:09

Olwyn is also a Welsh girl's name.
Don't use Elwyn, it's a boy's name.

LydiaTomos · 07/01/2024 22:07

Elowen is not a Welsh name either. Elwen and Alwen are both Welsh girls names. Both pretty names.

Julen7 · 07/01/2024 21:05

Elowen

Pieceofpurplesky · 07/01/2024 21:03

Merryn or Eirian are two of my favourites

cariadlet · 07/01/2024 20:46

GogLais · 07/01/2024 18:33

Not Cariad. It is not a suitable name for a Welsh child and it would be embarrassing for her and for others.
Ceinwyn is not a name.

@LydiaTomos ,Wasn't there a band called De La Groove? Or De La Soul or something like that.

Edited

My cat was called Cariad (which is where my Mumsnet username comes from) but I wouldn't have used it for my dd.
It would have been like naming her sweetheart or darling.

janfebmarchapril · 07/01/2024 20:39

I have a Welsh girl name that's been mentioned and If I have another girl she'll be called Manon

tinytemper66 · 07/01/2024 20:23

Siân with the ^

soundsys · 07/01/2024 20:07

GogLais · 07/01/2024 18:53

My Nain was Eirwen which I've always liked. Literally translates as Snow White.
Not really. The -wen bit is more 'blessed' than 'white' in meaning.
I think the Eir bit is more 'bright' than being from snow.

Snow White is Eira Wen

The -wen names tend to be the names of 80 or 90 yr olds.
Lots of my aunties' and great aunts' names

Edited

I have a 9 year old -wen and always feel like they should make a come back... But they don't seem to be!

Love Ceridwen as suggested by a PP

YesterdaySuddenly · 07/01/2024 19:59

Efa
ffion
elin
nia

elis
Gruff/griff (English spelling)
macsen
emlyn
emrys
dylan
iolo
osian

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