How is the name Guto perceived outside of Wales?

[Reesie]

Dc3 is due any time now and I know that he is going to be a boy. I had no problems naming dd1 and dd2 but dh and I are completely stuck on boys names. Both of us like the name Guto (pronounced Geit-oh) and most local welshies are positive about it. However, a couple of relatives/friends who over the border really don't like it. I've known a couple of Guto's over the years and they have been rather cool, very gorgeous sporty blokes which has probably increased my preference of the name!

Anyway, would you say yey or nay?

I really like it. It's unusual, but not unpronouncable outside Wales.
Aneurin is nice too.

at Git O'Harry.

I love the name and was going to suggest the rather lovely looking young man you linked to as a namesake! I am however mother to three boys with very Welsh names! It's one of the names I have in reserve in the distant chance that we have any more, I like Huw as well (hmm Guto Huw, that would go really well with our surname) Efa is lovely too and my MiL is Gwenllian, I really like it.

I am English and live in England, but lived in Wales for a few years. I love Guto when pronounced properly. If you live in Wales, then what's the prob. Us thicky English folk have managed to get used to Niamh after all!

Dear goodness don't google images the name Guto unless you have good parental controls on you computer, there is a young man who makes a certain type of films with that name

Really? I'm off for a look!

Oh your children have lovely names! I particularly love Gwenllian, and Gwen as a nn is excellent- Conjures the beautiful Eve Myles.

what about Garyn - i was a school with a boy called that and always liked it

i'm also here in Wales but don't hear Guto often at all

What are your boys names lostinwales? I could steal one! (the name not one of your boys of course!)

Iolo is nice too? Or Efan, Iestyn, Osian, Rhodri

Like Guto.

As to other names, how about Macsen? Works well in England - can also be Macs/Max for short. Or:

Ceri
Iwan
Owain
Cadog

Ah what the hell, I'm not very anonymous here anyway as their photo is on my profile and they're in uniform! I've got Rhodri Arwel, Tomos Owain and Gwilym Ifor, they do all have easy English NN's for the non Welsh side of the family, so they can leave Wales and not be constantly explaining their names to everyone (well their first names anyway!). They are all bilingual like most people round here and go to primary and secondary schools where the main language is Welsh. Our surname is proper Welsh too, when there are elections and all the posters are up with the politicians names on I always laugh and think at least if they want to be in the Senedd then they've got the right names for the posters!

But no you can't steal any of the boys, just their names unless you want the four year old who is a right pain at the moment

I thought I was quite good at the various non-English names in Britain but I've never heard of that one and would have a) pronounced it Goo-toe and b) thought it might be German or something (mind-link with Gunther, I think). I did also immediately think of Kato from the Pink Panther films. But I am ignorant and if you like it, go for it.

I'm Welsh and there was a Guto in our street (a super furry animal, no less). Go for it; it's a lovely name.

We live in England but our son has an Irish name. He'll have to spell it out a lot, but better than a dull moniker like mine that everyone knows.

lostinwales What lovely names! I am a particular fan of Gwilym and wanted it for DS2, but DH vetoed.

Lost in Wales and Reecie -
Your DCs names are great,
I have Welsh nephews, Rhobert Emrys and Tomos Micael (sp????),
My favorite girls' names ever are Elin and Carys, but since I have v little connection with Wales don't feel justified using them.

Not super-keen...

With these foreign sounding names I think there is one factor you need to make your mind up about first:

are you going to be the kind of family that gets terribly offended (=posts obsessively on Mumsnet) if the child's teachers/friends/future in-laws mispronounce the name or misspells it on their first birthday card?

or are you going to be able to take it in your stride?

both my dcs have difficult names but we get on with it and are tolerant of other people's efforts

Sorry but at foreign sounding names! Welsh is not 'foreign', sorry cory I mean no offense, and I can almost see what you mean, it just tickled me! (although I do get offended and upset that my father still cannot pronounce his youngest grandsons name, it's not hard!)

Gwenllian is beautiful! I'm not a massive fan of Guto but I think Guto Harri has made it a bit more widely known outside Wales. I have a Rhidian (or, as he's commonly called, Rhidian-with-an-i-not-a-y-and-no-he's-not-named-after-the-X-Factor-bloke-he-was-born-well-that' He did get a rapturous welcome when we coincidentally wandered into X-Factor Rhydian's local pub once though!)

*well-before-that

Sorry, lostinwales, I read the OP carelessly and though the OP lived in England. My apologies .

Since she lives in Wales (just re-read it) clearly it is not a foreign sounding name, any more than my ds' name would be foreign in Sweden. I take it back.

Oooh! Lovely names lostinwales. Gwilym particularly (the other two have been taken up by close friends!). I'm going to go for it despite the 'Git' warnings from my more english speaking friends. I'm not bothered if it will be misspelt. The more I think about it the keener on the name I'm getting. DH is starting to be more worried but saying 'Oh a name like Guto Rhys "Surname", he surely would play rugby for Wales' - usually makes dh more agreeable!

What his happening to Guto Bebb's wife tonight? - I haven't seen the news.