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Original poster

Welsh speaker / historian needed....!

23 replies

Janoschi · 28/02/2011 22:54

Can anyone tell me what the word Menai means, if anything? I grew up on the banks of the Straits and was thinking of using it as a middle name. Diolch yn fawr!

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BikeRunSki · 28/02/2011 23:01

Strong Current it would.

But also quite usual to name a child after a place that means something to you. DSis and I both have middle names on that basis.

BikeRunSki · 28/02/2011 23:01

... it would seem!

pingusmumtoo · 28/02/2011 23:05

I think there was a poet that had Menai as his middle name ... I luvs it I does !

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Janoschi · 28/02/2011 23:17

Thanks so much for the helpful and encouraging comments! Think we've got our name then Smile. Unless our kiddy surprises us and ends up being a boy... then it'll be back to the drawing board!

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ConstanceFelicity · 01/03/2011 04:25

Lovely name... It was quite common up in t'mountains where I was brought up, looking down on the island. Also love Menna.
I'm not aware it means anything else: It certainly isn't used these days, even if it does have an old meaning.

Know quite a few with Mon as a middle name, too, and a few Aethwys. Seiriol after the island and saint, and I know no-one brave enough to use Cybi, though I think it's wonderful. Know of a Cefni as a middle name, too.

greenzebra · 01/03/2011 08:44

I think thats lovely, and middle name that means something. Thats what they are there for I think. I would love to give my son the middle name Lemhi after the county I loved in in Idaho USA, but my husband has vetoed it. so we are having family names that mean alot to us. So better than nothing.

BikeRunSki · 01/03/2011 12:59

I think Menai would suit a boy too.

I might have to call my next DC Llanberis or Fachwen after lovely holidays. DS's middle name is Peter, but not after Pete's Eats!

My middle name is the ed it as a place in Jamaica where my dad lived for 15 years. I hated it as a child (it is not a particularly attractive sound) but love the personal-ness of it now.

Original poster
Janoschi · 02/03/2011 19:10

I love Cybi! Pronounced Cubby... or am I off the mark a bit? Left Wales as a child so some things have slipped.

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ConstanceFelicity · 02/03/2011 20:26

Correct Janoschi. It is great isn't it? And a really brilliant namesake too...

Here he is

DewinDoeth · 02/03/2011 20:45

Ooh, a thread just for me! I'm a Welsh speaker and an historian - working on medieval Welsh texts and stuff. Grin
Also can see the Menai straits from where I'm typing this.

Menai - strong doubts about the 'strong current' meaning (doesn't really work linguistically as far as I can tell).

Definitely a good name - used as a first name actually, not particularly uncommon, but definitely feminine. No question.

Cybi - is male. My DH is keen on using it if we have a boy this time, as our DS has Seiriol as a middle name. I really don't like Bill and Ben pairings!!

DewinDoeth · 02/03/2011 20:47

ConstanceFelicity I bet we know each other. I've seen you on other threads too and thought 5 minutes would be enough to work out whether we know each other. Smile

ConstanceFelicity · 03/03/2011 09:02

Yes, DewinDoeth, we have met on a thread before- I am a namechanger. Are you pg again then? It would be very very very gwych if you had a Seiriol and a Cybi... Can't believe no-one's thought of that before...

Medieval Welsh texts... I am jealous! I'm not far from Peniarth and always want to break in to see if they missed anything big :o

DewinDoeth · 03/03/2011 14:05

Well if you do pop in of an evening, and find anything, do let me know! Grin

DewinDoeth · 03/03/2011 14:05

Oh, yes, and pg again (which makes me sound very fertile and earth-motherey - it's only my second!) and no to Cybi...Besides, I hate Holyhead! Grin

ConstanceFelicity · 03/03/2011 20:47

That's the one thing about Cybi... I remember someone on Pobol y Cwm once wanted to call their DC Gwalchmai... (He ended up being Chester) :o

If I come across Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin: The Sequel I shall be sure to let you know :o

Pob lwc efo'r un bach newydd.

Guacamole · 03/03/2011 20:54

My DH is from N Wales and a Welshspeaker. He went to school with a girl called Menai, but he's pretty sure it doesn't mean anything or if it does it's very old Welsh, he does not agree it means 'strong current'. He's never heard of Cybi for a boy.

Original poster
Janoschi · 04/03/2011 00:26

You guys are making me so damn homesick.

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ConstanceFelicity · 04/03/2011 07:46

Sorry Janoschi. Come home! St Davids

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Janoschi · 04/03/2011 12:46

It'll be a few years yet, I think. Though my unrealistic dream long-term plan is to buy a little cottage in Harlech... sigh.

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ConstanceFelicity · 04/03/2011 12:47

OOoooh Harlech. Nice. You'd be close enough to me to meet for coffee then, too. :o

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Janoschi · 04/03/2011 14:41

I'm getting the distinct impression you're living in a gorgeous area, leaving me with no choice but to harbour dangerously jealous thoughts as I skulk off to another thread....

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bronze · 04/03/2011 14:45

men- (probably related to myn- in myned ?to go') and -ai ?flow'.

sounds right?

DewinDoeth · 04/03/2011 20:39

bronze I could be convinced there! Well, not sure about the -ai bit, but I could look it up. (Dictionaries at work.)
But it's the name for the Straits from pre-Roman times so I'm not really qualified to work out the meaning! Grin

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