Emrys for a baby without Welsh background

My son is called Emrys, so I would say it is an excellent choice of name!
We are welsh but not welsh speaking. Some people have assumed that we do speak welsh, given the name, but if you live outside wales (and encounter fewer actual welsh speakers) you might not get this as much. If you love it, go for it.

I only recently heard this name but I LOVE it so much!

Agreed, Welsh speakers tend to assume I'm Welsh speaking based on my name (my Mam's a Welsh speaker and named me after her grandmother).

I'd say Emrys is a name in that category of Welsh names.

It's definitely a very Welsh sounding name, so your son will be regularly asked if he's Welsh, which might get a bit annoying for him. Can't see any problems other than that - but personally I wouldn't want to be constantly asked if I am from somewhere that I'm not.

This. I would assume Emrys has a welsh-speaking background. Also Emrys can be hard to pronounce with some Spanish accents.

That said you should 100% use the name that you love.

there are many children where I live (in Wales) which I describe as traditionally non British ie Luca, Amira, Gio, Roux, Jean-luc etc, no one bats an eyelid, so you don’t need to worry about that. Emrys is a lovely name, alternatives can be Emlyn or Emery.

anyway I’m led to believe as I’m not a Welsh speaker myself that the Welsh and Spanish language is quite similar in many respects.

Go for it if you like the name.

I know a couple who gave their LO a Welsh name even though they have no connection to Wales.

Which prompted memories of ambrosia custard in my mind!!!

Awww, that’s nice. Lovely name. Welsh people don’t care about ‘cultural appropriation’ btw 😅. Our culture is for anyone to enjoy.

Not a problem, but as a Welsh person, a name THAT Welsh would have me speaking Welsh to them in the first instance. Maybe I am just from a different part of the country that would do it, but here, very Welsh names are usually synonymous with Welsh first language people!

By your logic my 2 year old who was born in Wales is allowed to comment on it but I’m not because I wasn’t lucky enough to be born here - even though I’ve lived here most of my life and feel Welsh, but because I have a disability that makes it hard to learn the language and my parents aren’t Welsh, I’m not allowed to speak. So by your logic which culture am I allowed to speak about? My Mum’s Romanian one, even though I’ve never even visited the country? You keep just doubling down on your prejudice @HugoYorway .

Fine, I’ll bite. So ARE you mixed race/heritage too? - because I can’t believe that if you were you’d imply that mixed race people aren’t allowed to comment on any cultures (because they aren’t wholly any one) - as you told me I shouldn’t comment on cultural appropriation because I’m not Welsh, even though I live here. You just want us to shut up? And you claim that’s not bigoted 😡

I have not implied anything about what mixed race people are allowed to comment on.

I have not said that you should not comment on cultural appropriation because you are not Welsh.

I only pointed out that you had said that using a name from a certain culture/language was not cultural appropriation but you were not actually from that culture.

You making up accusations about me is what's weird.

You have probably put @WinterPoppy , completely off the name now.

Sorry if this details your thread OP, but at least you’ll see that @HugoYorway is the kind of person your son might meet if you use the name (but that the rest of the thread agrees with me that that using Emrys if your not Welsh is no big deal),

Fine, I’ll bite. So ARE you mixed race/heritage too?@HugoYorway - because I can’t believe that if you were you’d imply that mixed race people aren’t allowed to comment on any cultures (because they aren’t wholly any one) - as you told me I shouldn’t comment on cultural appropriation because I’m not Welsh, even though I live here. You just want us to shut up? And you claim that’s not bigoted 😡

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , I thought you weren't talking to me. You seem to not comprehend my posts. I have not made reference to your heritage other than it not being Welsh. You however have decided that I am Welsh and white.

Use whatever name you want. It’s a beautiful name.

Names from other cultures/ countries are used all the time, no biggie.

Btw what you suggested that was bigoted was that apparently I’m not allowed to speak about Welsh names because I’m not Welsh - even though I’ve lived there for much of my life. But as a mixed race/mixed heritage person that would imply I’m not allowed to offer my opinions about any names - because I’m not 100% of any race/heritage. And you can’t understand how that sounds bigoted🙄

And you have also decided what cultural appropriation is @HugoYorway 😡 As a mixed race/heritage person, I’ve had to deal with opinions like yours most of my life because I happen not to be 100% of one race/heritage. I don’t want to argue with people like you - I won’t be speaking to you again.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam At least you are aware that this is the kind of bigoted thinking you might have to deal with if you name him Emrys because you aren’t Welsh (Im mixed race/mixed heritage -part Romanian actually which is why comment about Eastern Europeans is so funny) But only if you go to certain insular parts of Wales.
Which part of my post was bigoted? I don't care what @WinterPoppy calls her child, and if she likes the name Emrys, I don't have any issue with it.
The objection I have is to you, as a non-Welsh, non-Welsh speaker, insisting it wasn't cultural appropriation when it isn't your culture.

I’ve lived in Wales for 20 years, my child was born here and will speak Welsh (I struggle with learning another language as I’m partially deaf, but thankfully unlike most Welsh people are lovely and very accepting , I live near the border where everyone speaks English). But because we weren’t born in Wales to multiple generations of Welsh people we have no right to use their names according to people like that poster 🙄! I expect they think we should’nt be allowed to live here too.
I don't live in Wales and have no intention of doing so, so that argument is not relevant.

But in the real world, thankfully, I only meet people like that poster very rarely- if you live in a larger town/city in the UK your Emrys will be absolutely fine (apart from possible spelling issues as I mentioned, but that’s not the end of the world for such a lovely name).
I live in a large town or city in the UK, and know people with all sorts of names. I do not speak for any other cultures other than my own.

You, @IamnotwhouthinkIam ,on the other hand, have decided that I am Welsh, and laid into me, which implies that you have prejudice against the Welsh.

Go for it as long as you don't mind people asking about Welsh connections all the time, because they probably will. I'm Welsh living in Wales and don't know any young Emrys's, but like the name so why not

At least you are aware that this is the kind of bigoted thinking you might have to deal with if you name him Emrys @WinterPoppy because you aren’t Welsh (Im mixed race/mixed heritage -part Romanian actually which is why @HugoYorway comment about Eastern Europeans is so funny) But only if you go to certain insular parts of Wales.

I’ve lived in Wales for 20 years, my child was born here and will speak Welsh (I struggle with learning another language as I’m partially deaf, but thankfully unlike @HugoYorway most Welsh people are lovely and very accepting , I live near the border where everyone speaks English). But because we weren’t born in Wales to multiple generations of Welsh people we have no right to use their names according to people like that poster 🙄! I expect they think we should’nt be allowed to live here too.

But in the real world, thankfully, I only meet people like that poster very rarely- if you live in a larger town/city in the UK @WinterPoppy your Emrys will be absolutely fine (apart from possible spelling issues as I mentioned, but that’s not the end of the world for such a lovely name).