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Original poster

Celtic sounding names?

33 replies

LittleB · 13/01/2010 10:41

Hi, dd has a welsh name and I'm trying to find other welsh or celtic names that I like (we have a Scottish surname so it seems to be in keeping too). So far have;
For a girl;
Clodagh
Bronwyn
Arwen (I know its lord of the rings but I really like it!)
Guinevere
Iona
Isla
Rhiannon
Shannon
Thea
Boys names;
Angus
Caleb
Euan
Finlay
MurphyAny more ideas or thoughts on the above appreciated!

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mathanxiety · 14/01/2010 16:32

Carys (Welsh)
Kerenza (Cornish)
Both mean 'love'

mathanxiety · 14/01/2010 16:27

Angharad? You won't bump into many.

LadyCressida · 13/01/2010 22:42

I think Megan is a Welsh name, though you wouldn't immediately recognise it as such.

Have you seen this website?
www.behindthename.com/nmc/wel.php

It's very comprehensive - I wasted HOURS on it yesterday!

doughnutty · 13/01/2010 19:54

What about Shona for a girl and Duncan for a boy?

spiderlight · 13/01/2010 19:38

We have a Rhidian (Welsh) and I also love Caelan for a boy.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 13/01/2010 15:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ladylush · 13/01/2010 14:40

Aoife is very common in Ireland of late.

mathanxiety · 13/01/2010 14:35

I would throw out Murphy (which can also mean potato) and Shannon (too Irish-American, imo).

Would you consider Sian?

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:31

Branwen is good, like Cadi too. Can't have a name starting with M as thats what dd's name starts with and could lead to confusion with post etc! Roisin and Rosie is a good idea!
Keep them coming!

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MaggieMnaSneachta · 13/01/2010 14:30

ps, shannon is the dreaded C word. I think because it was Americans who labelled it Irish, rather than the Irish! It just has the same vibe as Madison or Taylor for me.

[runs and hides]

MaggieMnaSneachta · 13/01/2010 14:27

ps, i love Bruce and Donald too.

Skye is lovely as a middle name I think. Wouldn't use it as a first name. Roisin is nice too and can be Rosie if people struggle with roisin.

emmlo · 13/01/2010 14:26

I'd go for Branwen over Bronwen tbh, Bronwen isn't at all popular in Wales.

Other Welsh suggestions:

Girls - Cadi (short for Catrin), Lois, Manon, Nia, Lowri, Gwenno, Elin, Haf (Welsh for Summer), Mai (Welsh for May), Medi (Welsh for September)

Boys - Cai, Cian, Owain, Gwyn (Welsh for White), Glyn, Math, Osian, Dylan.

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:26

I do like Gwen too, Gwendoline is lovely, had a step grandmother Gwyneth so would feel a bit odd about that, but Gwendolin is now on the list - I do have more girls names than boys!

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MaggieMnaSneachta · 13/01/2010 14:25

Olwen, Clodagh or Maeve for a girl
Gregor, Fergus or Diarmuid for a boy

SqueezyB · 13/01/2010 14:18

ooh, I forgot one of my favourites - Gwen! Short for either Gwendoline or Gwenllian (the double-l pronounced the welsh way). Or Gwyneth - lovely name that doesn't sound so old-ladyish now thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:17

Thanks squeezy, wasn't sure if it had a hard or soft 'G'.

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Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:15

Thanks beasknees, we really like Guinevere, was on the short list when we had dd, just seems long too long when they are only little, and a nightmare when they are learning to write their names, but it is really growing on me, and I do like Gwyn (is that how you'd spell at?) as a nicname!

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SqueezyB · 13/01/2010 14:15

Geraint is as it's spelt really, with a hard 'G' - 2 syllables Geh-rainte. Ge as in (Bob) Geldof and 'rai' as in ryvita, not rain! If that makes any sense at all...

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:12

Thanks grammar, aoife is pretty and unusual, we know 3 naimh already (2 spelt neive). Will add oisin to my list too, but Dara wouldn't go with our surname (starts with an R - too many R's together!)

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Beasknees · 13/01/2010 14:09

sholto
rory and a million variants
fergus
angus
douglas
if ds2 had been a girl he'd be guinevere

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:07

Thanks squeezy, I like Anwen alot and seren. Also Travis for boys, could you tell me how you pronounce Geraint? I like Murry and Bethan too!

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grammar · 13/01/2010 14:05

for girls
Aoife (pron Eeefa)
Niamh (pron Neave)
For Boys
Oisin (pron Osheen)
Dara (after lovely Dara O'Brian) maybe a bit girlish)
Eoin (pron Owen/Iain)

thedollshouse · 13/01/2010 14:02

You could add Bethan for a girl and Rory for a boy.

notasausage · 13/01/2010 14:02

Murray or Harris for boys

Original poster
LittleB · 13/01/2010 14:01

Thanks for the ideas - I used to work with a clodagh, she said it cloe - dah, we used to call her Clo.
Thanks for the link Naetha, glad to see dd's name is there, I do like Rhian and Nia alot. And thank you weegiemum - I really like seamus (although it does remind me of a horse I used to ride with the same name!), and Calum. Thanks bellissima - I did wonder that about Shannon, and Rhiannon, I do like Cara, but know a catlin and not keen on Fiona so wouldn't use those.

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