to want to give our baby a Welsh name even though we are not Welsh?

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We are thinking of naming our new baby girl Eleri(e) but are wondering if its ok to use such a traditional Welsh name when we are not Welsh and have no Welsh ancestry - or am I worrying unnecessarily? DH thinks its fine.

Also if anyone can help - we're unsure about the spelling and pronunciation. We prefer the spelling Elerie and wondered if this is an accepted spelling in Wales as I've only ever come across Eleri. I also don't know which is the correct pronunciation as it could possibly be pronounced in two different ways.

Choose whatever name you like. However, if you don't even know how to spell or pronounce it, prepared for her name to be spelt and pronounced incorrectly forever more

(I love lots of Welsh names too)

go for it.

i don't even know where my DC originate from

You want to give your child a name you are unsure how to spell nor how to pronounce?

just why?

my daughter's middle name is 'sian' and we're not welsh either.

wouldn't use irish names as way, way back my family is irish and i wouldn't want to be what my colleague calls a 'plastic paddy' (her irish heritage is more recent). i don't know if there's a welsh equivalent of plastic paddy...

Numbum - that's partly why I'm worried and hoping some kind MNer can help me out.

I think it's pretty, but if you are this worried about the spelling, pronunciation and origin of a name then choose another one.

Otherwise you will be apologetically over-explaining and spelling it out and pronouncing it for the rest of your days!

I couldn't give a monkeys about origin of the name, but I would make sure I knew how to spell and pronounce it before using it.

I'm not Irish but if I have another girl, I will seriously consider Aoife. However, I know how to spell and pronounce it. Otherwise, how can you really tell if you like it?

I have no idea of what is correct but think it is a lovely name! I don't think you have to be welsh for it as long as it sounds nice with your surname.

I think I have heard it pronounced to rhyme with celery but don't know if that is welsh or not.

Jumping - because I know how I would pronounce it, I'm just worried it's not how Welsh people pronounce it and therefore incorrect. If we can't ascertain these important facts, we won't use it. :)

Please spell it eleri

How do you think it's pronounced?

I can only think of two ways it would be possible to say it
It's el air ee

[ syll. e-le-rie, el-er-ie ] The baby girl name Elerie is also used as a boy name. Elerie has its origins in the Welsh language. Elerie is a form of the English and Welsh Eleri.

Elerie is not often used as a baby girl name.

Yanbu you'll be ok.

here

Should clear up the pronunciation and spelling for what it's worth, both myself and my brother have Welsh names we have no Welsh heritage as far as I'm aware.

bronze - El er ree and El air ee - but don't know which is the right way but know which one I prefer.

It's air
But a shortish air

canary not celery - right, got it!

Its more traditional in Wales to spell it Eleri, and its a beautiful name!

My child was always going to have a Welsh name, (I am Welsh though). My daughter is called Cerys and everyone loves her name!

I've even got a Welsh baby name book!

Its pronouced E-le-ri and Welsh people would roll their R's!

Go for it, there won't be many with that name in her class for sure xx

Canary is a perfect way of describing it
So obvious

If you like it, have it! My DD2 has an Italian name but we're not Italian. I just tell people we liked it when we were in Italy during my pregnancy so that's good enough for us! And pronounce it / spell it however you choose. There are many more unusual names out there..

I'm Welsh and have only every heard it with the air bit in the middle.
Eleri is the most common spelling of it
Very pretty name too.

We have three welsh names for our daughter we aren't welsh either although I do have welsh ancestors.

Unfortunately I didn't expect to have to spell such a popular welsh name in a fellow Celtic county!

No, no, no...not rhyming with canary! I'm Welsh...it's more subtle than that...it rhymes with Minelli...as in Liza.

Obv not the "min" bit...but the second part of the word.

Uh/Ah-Ler-i

NCforNow - can you give another example - I can't get it to rhyme with Minelli! Looking at the name it does seem to rhyme with celery but as mentioned, I'm not Welsh!