Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Parents, Teachers, Everyone - Opinions on these names please!

75 replies

moominleigh94 · 13/12/2013 10:46

Me again

Please be as brutal as you like; whether it's based on experiences of people you've met/taught or just plain opinions. Trying to create long-lists that we can then turn into shortlists (we're having a surprise so we'll just pick the name on the day, hopefully off our shortlist).

Celyn (pronounced Kell-in, Welsh for 'holly')
Dylan
Alistair
Sienna
Georgia (as a middle name)
Rhys (as a middle name)
Rory
Bradley
Skye (girl)
Saffron
Ava

I'll be adding to this list later, just gauging some basic opinions first

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Alisvolatpropiis · 15/12/2013 12:17

Celyn is lovely.

And so what if she doesn't stay in Wales? People have managed to get their heads around Niamh, Siobahn, Aoife etc haven't they.

It's amazing how close minded some English posters are to names from other cultures/languages.

drspouse · 15/12/2013 14:10

Alis, to some extent I agree, but I was at school with a girl with a very non-obvious non-English name, and her parents said they wished they'd chosen a name that worked in both languages (nobody could spell or pronounce it, though it did sound lovely and had a nice meaning). They just didn't think they were staying on in England. Those Irish names you mention do now work in England, as they are now well known - and the family I knew could have chosen a non-English, but well known, name - that's what they wished they'd done.

My brother deliberately chose names for his two that work both in their mum's language and in English, even though they aren't thinking of moving back immediately.

noblegiraffe · 15/12/2013 14:15

I haven't got my head around Niamh (Neeve? Nev?) or Aoife (don't know where to start). Siobhan I can do, although I don't know any.

And I'm a teacher, so am exposed to loads of names!

drspouse · 15/12/2013 15:14

I know one Aoife and had to ask how to pronounce it - it's Efa, as if it was Eva with an F.

Niamh is Neeve, but I know a teenager called Neve, same pronunciation.

Alisvolatpropiis · 15/12/2013 18:05

But it's your problem if you aren't familiar with the name, not the parents or the child's.

You wouldn't demand a Polish person changed their name to a more English friendly one upon meeting them would you?

noblegiraffe · 15/12/2013 18:54

Lots of kids actually do pick 'English' names when moving from other countries to England. It's all very well saying it's the person who doesn't know how to pronounce the name's problem, but if that is most people, that could get a bit tiring.

drspouse · 15/12/2013 20:03

Exactly, noblegiraffe DH gives up on non-UK people getting his name right, he just uses the name they tend to give him instead.

Original poster

moominleigh94 · 15/12/2013 20:17

noble thing is, hardly anyone in England knows how to pronounce my OH's name properly - if they're way off he corrects them, if they're close enough he just lets it slide and it doesn't bother him. Most people I've asked on other sites have told me they'd have no issues with pronouncing Celyn correctly and those who would struggle said it'd only take one correction to set them right. She'll be spending all of her school years in Wales - if she develops a nickname she prefers in that time that everyone can pronounce, fine by us. If not, correcting people really isn't that big a hassle - I've had to do it for years with both people calling me a name that isn't mine and mispelling my real name, and OH has to do it too. It really doesn't bother us all that much

OP posts:

BananaHammocks · 15/12/2013 20:22

My name is Italian and lots of people struggle to pronounce it, not been a problem for me.

twinklestar2 · 15/12/2013 20:27

Celyn is beautiful and unusual - use it!

BananaHammocks · 15/12/2013 20:34

Yes Moomin go for Celyn so there are less Saffrons born next year!

CadenceRoastingByAnOpenFire · 15/12/2013 20:46

I'm Welsh and know how to pronounce Celyn. I've only ever heard it as a boys name though. I guess it's a unisex name? I do think it's a beautiful name for a boy or girl.

Jellymum1 · 15/12/2013 20:54

Celyn is my fave name on the list and i read it kaylynne which i dont think is too far off and im not welsh :) i knew a caitrin (catchin) and it only took her one time to correct people when they called her catrin. X

BananaHammocks · 15/12/2013 21:00

Hang on I thought in Welsh names ending in 'yn' were male and 'en' was the female version? As in Gwyn and Gwen??

Original poster

moominleigh94 · 15/12/2013 21:12

Celyn is used for both. The only Celyns I've ever met have been female, but I know of some males it's also been used for. I think because it's a word before being a name, and because it means 'holly', it's used for girls as well as boys.

Generally though the 'yn' for male, 'en' for female rule is followed - it just doesn't apply with this name

OP posts:

Jellymum1 · 15/12/2013 21:17

Goodness if it was celen then how would people cope with the pronounciation then ha

Original poster

moominleigh94 · 15/12/2013 21:22

jelly if it was celen I wouldn't blame people for pronouncing it "ceiling"

OP posts:

QuickQuickSloe · 15/12/2013 21:29

I like Celyn, I am a teacher in Wales and have not come across this yet. It's not hard to pronounce- it pretty much rhymes with Helen and nobody has trouble with this!

I haven't taught an Ava yet, but there is at least one in every toddler group I take DS to.

MarEl · 16/12/2013 03:27

Celyn - I'm Welsh and where I'm from Celyn wouldn't be used for a girl.
Dylan - It's nice
Alistair - It makes me think of an old, bitter school teacher.
Sienna - Pretty, but common amongst chavs
Georgia (as a middle name) - It's okay.
Rhys (as a middle name) - Meh, nothing special.
Rory - It's a bit feminine sounding to me
Bradley - I'm not a fan of
Skye (girl) - Prefer it spelled Sky, but it's pretty and unusual.
Saffron - Makes me think of curry.
Ava - It's alright, a bit meh. A lot of people think it's popular, but I don't know anyone with kids called that.

Original poster

moominleigh94 · 16/12/2013 08:13

MarEl I'm from the north and I've only actually seen it used on girls

OP posts:

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/12/2013 17:53

I'm Welsh and have only known female Celyn's.

I only know male Ceri's over the age of about 50 too. It's now very much a girls name where I live.

notthegirlnextdoor · 18/12/2013 18:37

Just chiming in. I have an Ava, find it interesting that its now so popular, wasn't even in the top 50 when I chose it. (Which is part of the reason why I chose it, I had 8 other girls with my name in my year at school, tho it was handy for getting away with things "So and so did it." "Whats their surname?" "Errrrm...") No other Avas around here either, not in her year at school or the one below that.

Witchesbrewandbiscuits · 18/12/2013 18:50

teacher here too. love celyn! you only need telling how to pronounce once so its not an issue.

sienna is chavvy, really do not like.

I have met some lovely dylans!

a few lovable rogue type bradleys.

love skye and ava!

hth haha

happypotamus · 18/12/2013 21:01

The more I think about the more I like Celyn. It's a beautiful name and has a special meaning for you. I am not Welsh but knew how to pronounce it.

I have named my DD an unusual Welsh name despite not being Welsh and not living in Wales. On the stats lists there tend to be about 6 a year with her name. When people ask her name they usually look a little confused as they have never heard it before, ask me to repeat it once but then get it right and remember how to say it. I imagine it would be even easier if we were in Wales where the spelling makes more sense, so I don't think you/ she will have too many problems even if she leaves Wales in the future.

N0llaigSh0na · 18/12/2013 21:26

Celyn (pronounced Kell-in, Welsh for 'holly') no don't like it but I'm not welsh so I don't get it.
Dylan - like it despite not being welsh
Alistair - no, such a wet drippy name
Sienna - no, too slebb-wannabe
Georgia (as a middle name) - ok, normal, make it a first name?
Rhys (as a middle name) - no, really dislike it
Rory - lovely, normal.
Bradley - no, kind of dated and american in a bad way, like rednecky?
Skye (girl) quiite like it, in a family of other scottish names. as a sister to sienna or saffron, no.
Saffron - ok, but not my style.

Ava - pretty.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread