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Baby names

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

Original poster

Llewelyn

30 replies

Mandalin · 23/08/2008 05:21

We've named our latest boy (the 4th) Llewelyn.
Trouble is , most people in Australia seem to have never heard it before, they think it's a girl, a girl called Lou-Ellen!!!

We have to explain that it's Welsh, that it's ancient and the double 'l' is not a pretentious yuppy affectation (as in Siimon).

Would you recognise the name for what it is?

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3andnomore · 23/08/2008 09:03

Twm? Is that pronounced Tom or Tim or somehting like that?

My favourite welsh boy name is Gwilym....when we lived in Chepstow I worked in a Hospital and one of the old gentleman I cared for was called Gwilym and I just fell in love with the name....helped that the old man was lovely

3andnomore · 23/08/2008 09:01

isn't the double LL pronounced somehting like Cl so it would be pronounced Cluellen?

Well, I can see the problem though, when people really don't know and have never heard of the name...

Bumperlicious · 23/08/2008 08:44

I recognise, but I lived in North Wales for 5 years and came across all kinds of Welsh names. My all time favourite being Twm!

slayerette · 23/08/2008 08:29

I'm presuming you are from Welsh heritage to have chosen it, and in that case it's not pretentious at all - why not use a name from your own culture?! I love the name but largely because of my abiding love for Sharon Penman's novels based on the Welsh Princes - I was devastated when my A level history paper with the compulsory Welsh component was based on the disestablishment of the church!

Of course I would recognise the name for what it is but you might have to spend some time explaining to people not familiar with Welsh pronunciation how to pronounce the name - it can be tricky to get the Ll sound right if you're not used to it. Just keep repeating the proper pronunciation to friends until they get it and as for strangers - life's too short!

Califrau · 23/08/2008 06:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.