Using Cornish and Welsh names even though we aren't either!

[bamboozledAardvark]

Do you think we could get away with using either Cornish or Welsh names even though we are neither? We already have a daughter, Hebe, so want a name that we like as much as that. So far we like the following -

Idris
Jory
Lowen

Sennen
Seren
Kerensa

There are names we like that are neither Cornish nor Welsh but I was wondering if we could get away with using these? Surname is not dissimilar to Smith.

Of course you can, just don't get irritated by people asking what the Welsh/Cornish connection is.

I don't see the problem subject to a couple of provisos:

1. that you pronounce the names properly and
2. don't mind people asking if you're Welsh or Cornish.

Since you've picked - with the exception of Seren which is very popular in Wales and Kerensa (her off of Time Team) - fairly obscure names, you need to prepare yourself for that in a way you wouldn't if you'd gone with Carys and Rhys.

Apparently Idris is also an Arabic name so not exclusively used by the Welsh.

For what it's worth, be prepared for people thinking you've said Rory when you've said Jory and for thinking Lowen is Lauren.

Sorry, the archaeologist off Time Team is actually a Carenza. I think it must just be a spelling variation?

I'm glad it's not seen as a problem.

All the names I've met people in RL with them so, unless they're pronouncing them wrong, I'm good with. I also don't mind people asking, a lot of people ask about DD's name so I'm pretty used to it! Again a lot of people mistake her name for Phoebe so Jory/Rory and Lowen/Lauren would be something I'm used to.

For what it's worth, I really like Seren, Kerensa and Idris - they're exactly the sort of names I'd match up with Hebe. I'm not bowled over by your other choices but they certainly have the same feel as Hebe.

In case you're interested, the Hebes who were announced in the Telegraph have siblings called Ophelia Grace, Henry Robert, Eva, Honor, Samuel, Iris, Ottilie, Finty, Henry Charles Ivo Glover, Flora, Kit, Betty, Felix, Alexander, William, Jemima, Hattie Josephine & Emilia (Minnie). Looks like anything goes - from the traditional to the more obscure - so you'll be fine with whatever you choose!

As long as you are sure of the correct pronunciation and spelling, I can't see any issue.

That you Stellan, that's very interesting! I do very much like Kit and Ivo :)

I've used a Welsh name for my second son - I'm not Welsh, although my parents live there and I went to university there.

I live in The Netherlands, so imagine my surprise taking him for his 4-week check-up and them calling out his name only for it to be for another 4 week old baby!

Hebe is Greek isn't it? Did you have any qualms about that? Then why not Welsh or Cornish.

We didn't actually, but it's from Greek mythology so I felt slightly different about it. That's a good point though.

Two Cornish girls names I love are Lamorna & Loveday.

I don't think it matters if you aren't from there, but if you plan to visit the West Country and/or Wales often I'm sure your DC will appreciate they were named in honour of a part of the country you love.

My family is mostly Welsh so my family loyalties lie there, but I love Cornwall too and would love to have called DD Lamorna in recognition of a place that means something to me personally, free from family history or other associations. It was too far out for DH though!

Absolutely definitely yes! As long as you know what the name means as people are bound to ask!

I'm Irish, not Welsh or Cornish, but for what it's worth, I have no issues at all with people with no Irish connections using Irish names, as long as - as others have said - you don't mess with the spelling and pronunciation. I get all the arguments for anglicising names so your offpsring doesn't spend his or her entire life saying 'No, Aoife, not Eva', but I think it's pretty disrespectful to a living culture and language to cherrypick a name because you think it's pretty and then bastardise the spelling because authenticity is too hard.

Your names are lovely, by the way.

Oooh those Telegraph announcements sound dead common!

not a problem i am not cornish and my dd has a cornish name, althought on dps side there is some cornish ancestory if you go way back!

my ds3 has a welsh name, we are not welsh and have no welsh ancestory at all, we just liked the name :)

DD has an Italian name - we are not Italian in the slightest but it is a beautiful name and we love it. Have been asked if she is Italian though.

Then again my name is French and I'm not French either!