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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sorrel or Manon

108 replies

RoseApp · 28/08/2026 19:10

Wondered if anyone knew anyone with these names and what they think of them

Sorrel, Elowen, Manon (pronounced Welsh way.

Two syllable surname.

Also what goes well as a middle name. Family names don’t really suit and have been used apart from Mai (pronounced My)

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MurphysColeslaw · 28/08/2026 20:56

An explanation of the Welsh pronounciation would have been helpful?
If it's anything like the french way, Manon without a doubt.

FoundAUserNameDownTheSofa · 28/08/2026 20:54

Manon des sources. I don’t know the welsh pronunciation so can’t comment.

Sorrel is pretty, if no one in your family has a search impediment. [edit: speech impediment! Clearly I have a spelling impediment]

Elowen - I thought it was Cornish not Welsh? When a friend had an Elowen, I’d never heard of it before (I know of quite a few now), so I googled how to pronounce it and a mumsnet thread came up (“how do you pronounce Elowen?”) and the first response was “Wrong. I’d pronounce it wrong”.

HudALledrith · 28/08/2026 20:54

Manon is pronounced MAN-onn (ˈmanɒn).
I'd be surprised to hear it on a baby.
Mai is a filler middle name and doesn't go very well with Manon.
I think both names are forms of Mary.

Sorrel - not keen. FWIW, it's suran in Welsh
Elowen - not keen plus spelling and pronunciation likely to need correction, likely to be Ellie. Eluned is nicer. (pron El-INN-ed (ɛˈlɪn.ɛd)

Are there any family names that you could use the Welsh version of like Catherine/Catrin, Margaret/Mererid, Jane/Siân, Janet/Sioned, ...?

poundshopkardashians · 28/08/2026 20:44

@MyManinCaracas when I was a child I read a book with a pig in it called Sorrel - it had a wolf in an ice cream van who tried to eat them? Maybe you read it too! I can’t remember what it was called but that’s the only time I have heard the name Sorrel and I too always think of a pig!

Dithercats · 28/08/2026 20:43

Elwen is a lovely Welsh name, i know a few both adult & chold and suits them.all.

Morepositivemum · 28/08/2026 20:41

Sorry I agree they’re like something from lotr

bgi · 28/08/2026 20:40

Currently reading a book with a Manon in it, and it's really grown on me!

Butterbeaned · 28/08/2026 20:38

I’m not keen on any of them, they’re all a bit wispy to me.

user293948849167 · 28/08/2026 20:26

Manon assuming you live in Wales
Sorrel Mai is also cute

Manon in Welsh is literally pronounced “Man on” 2 syllables, emphasis on the Man

CamillaMcCauley · 28/08/2026 20:24

MiddleAgedDread · 28/08/2026 20:17

Sorrel is lovely - unusual but not too radical that no one can pronounce or remember it.
i don’t know what the welsh pronunciation of Manon is but it’s not a pretty name to look at! It comes across as abrupt and masculine.

Interesting you say that about Manon… in French “on” or “non” is a feminizing diminutive in the same style as “ette”, so to French people it makes the name sound sweet and pretty.

Floppyearedlab · 28/08/2026 20:19

Manon.
Beautiful French name

Celynfour · 28/08/2026 20:18

I live in Wales and love the name Manon .
Sorrel is pretty too
I also like Elowen but think she may become Ellie

magicalspringevening · 28/08/2026 20:18

Elowen is pretty but it has got a very Tolkien feel to it - not that there’s anything wrong with that but on balance I prefer Manon. I’m not massively keen on Sorrel.

MiddleAgedDread · 28/08/2026 20:17

Sorrel is lovely - unusual but not too radical that no one can pronounce or remember it.
i don’t know what the welsh pronunciation of Manon is but it’s not a pretty name to look at! It comes across as abrupt and masculine.

TallagallaPenguin · 28/08/2026 20:15

I like them all - Sorrel was one of the characters in the Noel streatfield book Curtain Up, a great character.
Manon - I only really think of it as a French name, but like it.
Elowen sounds the most Welsh to me, also a pretty name.

All good options.

Offherrockingchair · 28/08/2026 20:12

Manon makes me think of football training - Man on!!!!

I like the other two.

Username7258 · 28/08/2026 20:09

I like all three. Probably not Manon for a first choice as it would constantly be mispronounced. A plainer middle name would be a good idea if you're going for a more unusual first to give options.

BitterTits · 28/08/2026 20:07

The Welsh pronunciation of Manon is just as it looks, Man-on. Is the French pronunciation different?

FunnyOrca · 28/08/2026 20:04

I like all three.

Elowen and Manon (unfamiliar with the Welsh version, I’m thinking of the French) sound like little forest fairies.

Sorrel sounds a bit wilder, like a child of the forest vibe. A bit more sass about it.

I like all three.

lottiegarbanzo · 28/08/2026 19:37

Probably Elowen, it’s beautiful.
Sorrel is lovely too.
Manon I think of as French, didn’t know it could be Welsh. More room for misunderstanding with that.

Edenmum2 · 28/08/2026 19:33

I know a Manon, sweet girl but constantly repeating and correcting her name

theearlyyears · 28/08/2026 19:32

Oh I love Manon. How does it differ from the French pronunciation?

I know of someone who has a young Elowen. I’ve heard the name Sorrel before on a content creators videos. But, out of these, Manon for sure!

Shloopie · 28/08/2026 19:32

Oh I missed Elowen for some reason. I like it!

Ukholidaysaregreat · 28/08/2026 19:31

Elowen is my fave but no one else has thought this so far in the thread!

SilenceInside · 28/08/2026 19:29

Manon is my favourite out of those three, although I like them all.