Islwyn?

My father in law is called Islwyn and we pronounce it Is-Loin (we are in South Wales). But he gets called ‘Is’ for short which sounds very aggressive when my MIL calls him 🤣 so I’d definitely consider how it would be shortened if using it xx

If you are Welsh & live in Wales, fine. If you’re not, it would be very unfair to give the boy a name that he would have to spend his entire life explaining how to spell & pronounce.

@miniaturepixieonacid , I quite like it but only because the fashion has changed. Curly in Corrie was a Norman and it was not fashionable at the time.

It was meant lightheartedly @TheCultureHusks , otherwise there would be very few names in use.

Nothing in and of itself. But people were saying all the Islwyns they know are 60s/70s and that it's an old man's name that hasn't come back. So I picked what I'd consider to be an English equivalent - there's lots of baby Wilfreds, Arthurs, Stanleys, Sidneys, Bobbys, Teds etc now but I've never heard of a Norman who wasn't retired.

Oh and yes, @GogLais , someone can choose to use any name because it will work for their families or where in the country they live. Which is about a million miles from suggesting that folk should ONLY use names because they’re ‘easy to say’. It’s also a million miles from saying that it’s fine to pronounce names any old how, which ironically is exactly what this thread shows, it’s an entire discussion on how to get the name right.

So if you’re the unforgettably irritating poster who I believe used to be called MikeUniformMike and who used to pop up like a bad smell on every single thread on Welsh names, laying down the law in extreme droning detail on every single potential Welsh pronunciation crime possible (translation: not pronouncing things exactly the same way as I do in my particular accent) - do pop off. Your posting style doesn’t change!

Oh sorry I missed the grandfather bit!! Ignore other suggestions then OP

It's a beautiful name. I used my one of my Welsh grandfather's middle names for my daughter's middle name as can be male or female. Unfortunately his first name wasn't suitable for a girl but equally lovely.

What's wrong with Norman?

I am gazing from my garden upon Mynndd Islwyn as I write. For once it's not raining!

I think it's lovely, but if you and he aren't in Wales you will forever be explaining the pronunciation.

I am just getting ready to go to the cinema to see Nye from the National Theatre.
I do like Aneurin as a boys name and also Hywel.

I actually really like it (having never heard it before) but it sounds like it's the Welsh equivalent of calling your child Norman so maybe not!

There isn't really a way of explaining it.

@TheCultureHusks , OP's grandfather wasn't called Idris, Iestyn or Ieuan.
Should we only use names that are 'easier for non-Welsh speakers'?
In the meantime non-Welsh speakers can use Welsh names, choose how they want to say it, and if anyone says they're mangling it they get called 'the MN names police'

Ieuan isn't easy. 'Ya-yan' is awful.

The ‘oi’ in the ‘loin’ bit has a kind of a different, rounded feel to it, like you’re halfway on the way to saying ‘w’ instead.

I didn't know it was a name - I know it as the borough that my parents live in South Wales.

I would say it's more like is lieu in
Rather than is-loin just incase you start saying it like this as a few people have mentioned it as it is similar but it's not correct.

Idris, Iestyn, Ieuan would all be easier for non-Welsh speakers

I know one. It’s Iss- loin, pretty much, although writing the exact lwyn pronunciation is quite hard. Agree you should listen to it being said on that interview.

it’s very old fashioned, although I like it. Like calling him Gilbert or Roland. Or something like Stanley or all the other now-fashionable old man names, but this one isn’t !

I know 3, all are in their 70s. Which might not bother you

If you go on YouTube there is a national library of Wales video about the author Islwyn Ffowc Elis by Rheinallt Llwyd. Just after the 1 minute mark he pronounces the name if you want to hear the pronunciation.
It is a old man's name as mentioned but probably due a come back. I would be cautious that it might be difficult for none welsh speakers to pronounce correctly though.

If you live in Wales (especially mid or North), then go for it! If but, I'd be a bit more cautious.

I actually really like it though (am Welsh)

Is-loin. I also know some (north Wales) and agree it's a lovely name.

Sorry but I think if you have to ask how it's pronounced, you should probably use another name

My uni friend’s stepdad was called this. Iss-loyn is the nearest I can get to what his wife and my friend called him.

It’s a constituency as well, I recall it coming up in General Election coverage and it always makes me think of uni days, happily. So it’s a thumbs up from me.