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Baby names

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

Welsh baby names that English family can pronounce easily

180 replies

sunshinecjw · 12/08/2026 23:19

Hiya everyone, this is my first time posting so looking forward to hearing all of your thoughts!!

We are looking for Welsh names that are easy for my English side of the family to pronounce.

My top girl names are Mali and Cadi (please let me know your opinions on these) but I also love names like Ani, mabli and Llio. No long names, nothing overly common.
I also need a middle name that is preferably one (or two) syllable.

We think we have decided on a boy name but I would love to hear any unusual suggestions that I haven’t already heard (I feel like I have gone through every Welsh name list that exists).

I am well past my due date at this point so I would be mega grateful of any help/suggestions.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HudALledrith · 13/08/2026 08:24

re. my pp, it was more to do with whether or not you were bothered about names being said two ways like Bethan/Bethun or Arthur, or if you wanted names like Bryn or Gwen, and whether you wanted names that would work in non-Welsh speaking areas.

Misspellings:
Anghared - Angharad

Not Welsh:
Guinevere - it's the anglicised form of Gwenhwyfar
Elwyn - English origin
Ellis - Elis in Welsh
Ren

Pronunciation of Huw: Not Hugh. It's like someone who says their Ls as W saying 'Hill'.

Emrys and Manon haven't been mentioned.

Lilyargin · 13/08/2026 08:17

Carys

leggingsbotoxmatcha · 13/08/2026 08:15

Bethan
Megan
Cerys
Seren
Ceri
Bronwyn
Rhiannon
Nia

Dylan
Rhys
Owen
Rhodri
Bryn
Eli’s

angelpie33 · 13/08/2026 08:14

Girls:
Anwen
Gwenan
Cerys/Carys
Olwen

Boys:
Bryn
Emlyn
Elis
Idris

foughtthebag · 13/08/2026 08:06

Efa
eira
Ceri
Bethan

edited to add catrin

LimpRat · 13/08/2026 08:02

Caradog (this name has such a sweet meaning)
Gruff
Lois
Ffion
Emlyn

Nursemumma92 · 13/08/2026 07:41

Delyth is my favourite Welsh girls name.

LivingTheDreamish · 13/08/2026 06:09

Another vote for Mabli, which I think is simply lovely.

Mumofgirls2017 · 13/08/2026 05:56

Seren
cerys
bethan
sian
ffion
rhiannon

HudALledrith · 13/08/2026 01:13

Several non-Welsh or anglicised names have been posted.

Mali - will get said as Marley or the African Mali
Cadi - should be ok

Go for 1-syllable phonetic names with no sounds you don't get in English and you'll be fine.

Are you a Welsh-speaker, @sunshinecjw ?

Gentlework · 13/08/2026 00:51

Seren
Gwyn

Pertinentowl · 13/08/2026 00:50

I like the name Ren

Besidemyselfwithworry · 13/08/2026 00:47

sunshinecjw · 12/08/2026 23:37

Mab-lee

There’s a Welsh girl in my oldest sons year group called this and it’s lovely 🥰

Redhotspicywine · 13/08/2026 00:46

Macsen
Elis

fsfdl · 13/08/2026 00:43

Alys
Sian
Beca
Mari
Gwen
Erin
Elin
Catrin

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 12/08/2026 23:57

Any1ForTennis · 12/08/2026 23:46

I thought it was one L but it just didn't look right when I typed it! Good to know I was correct until I started overthinking!

LL is a completely different sound from L, like a sort of hiss through the side teeth. I still struggle to produce it.

Imaginedragons84 · 12/08/2026 23:55

Gwenan

OneStepForwardsTenStepsBack · 12/08/2026 23:47

We had similar as most of our families are English. Knew we were having a girl so didn’t have the hassle of boys names as well. Tested them all on (northern) DH before deciding.

Our shortlist:

Seren
Mabli
Cerys/Carys
Ffion (although this was too painful for me having lost a childhood friend)
Rhiannon
Arianwen
Erin
Nia

Any1ForTennis · 12/08/2026 23:46

OneStepForwardsTenStepsBack · 12/08/2026 23:41

Elis would be the Welsh spelling.

Huw is tricky as not the same as Hugh. The “u” has more of an “ee” sound.

I thought it was one L but it just didn't look right when I typed it! Good to know I was correct until I started overthinking!

TeaFizzy · 12/08/2026 23:44

I wouldn’t go for anything with an Ll or Rh sound if you want most English people to pronounce the name correctly

OneStepForwardsTenStepsBack · 12/08/2026 23:41

Any1ForTennis · 12/08/2026 23:39

Huw
Elwyn
Dylan
Ellis
Rhys (was so nearly DS name)

Elis would be the Welsh spelling.

Huw is tricky as not the same as Hugh. The “u” has more of an “ee” sound.

RusticChips · 12/08/2026 23:40

I like Mabli and Mali. I know a Ffion which is nice.

OneStepForwardsTenStepsBack · 12/08/2026 23:40

Most English people would pronounce Dylan wrongly. It’s not Dil-an in Welsh, it’s Dull-an.

Angharad also tricky and I doubt any of them would manage a Ll sound if they didn’t grow up hearing it.

Any1ForTennis · 12/08/2026 23:39

Huw
Elwyn
Dylan
Ellis
Rhys (was so nearly DS name)

OneStepForwardsTenStepsBack · 12/08/2026 23:37

MyDarlingRose · 12/08/2026 23:35

How is this pronounced?

Mab (as in fab)-lee