Need an unbiased opinion on Rhian

[squeak2392]

I really like Rhiannon and Rhiannedd, but I've been ignoring Rhian because every one I've known has been a -insert foul word-

But thinking about it, it's kinda nice :/

Pn the simple English way since although I currently live in Wales, I am English and baby will probably grow up in England.

TIA for opinions

Is it pronounced like Ryan?

I prefer Rhiannon but then I like longer names as I think they provide more options

WaffleWiffle Pn Ree-un. Sorry, thought it was a normal name even outside Wales :P

I've yet to meet a Rhian without a bit of a nasty streak... I'm sure they must exist though & certain that the name itself isn't to blame! I do love Rhiannedd. I'm Welsh but unfortunately raising my children in an area of England where the local accent wouldn't be able to handle it!

I love the name Rhian. The only one I knew was a girl I went to school with, and she was really nice, no nasty streak at all.

I don't like it. I knew a terrible Rhian and it sounds unfinished to me. Hard to know where the emphasis falls.

Ree-un also sounds much uglier to me than Ri-anne, I'm not sure why you would choose a Welsh name and not pronounce it the Welsh way?

I'd never heard of it. It looks like a boys name to me. Which is fine if you are having a boy but not great for a girl.

The name is due a revival! It was the welsh equivalent to Emma or Sarah in the 80s usually at least one Rhian in every year, along with a Nia and a Sian

It's a pretty name pronounced the Welsh way.

Hmm, I knew someone called Rhianne, which sounds more feminine. I think it's quite nice but probably more boy-ish.

Thanks for the responses :)

I also really like Ariane, so that's probably more likely, but I thought I'd get an opinion on Rhian anyway :)

nooka It wouldn't be pn the Welsh way partly because I don't like the Rh sound and partly because many English people wouldn't know to/be able to (myself included :P ) pn the Rh sound. It's like a rolled R sound, but more guttural than the French R sound. I went to school in Wales and the only person I've ever met who actually pn it the Welsh way was a native Welsh speaker, and even he didn't always do it.

RE boys name, I've never heard of Ryan being pn with a Ree sound. I've seen the name Rian, but on a boy it seems to be pn Ryan. I've seen Rian on girls before but I know sometimes it's actually pn Ryan and they're just trying to make it seem more feminine, so it really confuses me and I wouldn't use that spelling.

Rhianne seems unfinished and clumsy to me. Plus it sounds like Liane.

Thanks for the responses :)

I also really like Ariane, so that's probably more likely, but I thought I'd get an opinion on Rhian anyway :)

nooka It wouldn't be pn the Welsh way partly because I don't like the Rh sound and partly because many English people wouldn't know to/be able to (myself included :P ) pn the Rh sound. It's like a rolled R sound, but more guttural than the French R sound. I went to school in Wales and the only person I've ever met who actually pn it the Welsh way was a native Welsh speaker, and even he didn't always do it.

RE boys name, I've never heard of Ryan being pn with a Ree sound. I've seen the name Rian, but on a boy it seems to be pn Ryan. I've seen Rian on girls before but I know sometimes it's actually pn Ryan and they're just trying to make it seem more feminine, so it really confuses me and I wouldn't use that spelling.

Rhianne seems unfinished and clumsy to me. Plus it sounds like Liane.

I think the pronunciation of Ree-un is fine. I'm in south wales, and it would be pronounced that way rather than Rhi-anne by most people (or maybe somewhere between the two based on their accent). I probably wouldn't pick it for someone who was going to grow up in England, as I don't like names that have the potential to be mispronounced/misspelled.

Safe welsh names for people living in England seem to be Ffion, Cerys and Seren. My favourite welsh girl's name is Anwen.

The name pronounced at Ree-un, is here is SA a boys name spelt Riaan. It is an Afrikaans name and very popular. Also sometimes changed to Ruaan but also for a boy. I have never heard of it as a girls name to be honest.

I knew a lovely Rhian if that helps?

Murphy - it's a Welsh girls name.

My favourite Welsh girls' names are Catrin and Bethan. But I also like Siwan, Angharad, Bronwen and Sionedd

I love it, but I much prefer the spelling Rhianydd and I prefer the name in general because it sounds 'finished'. I've lived in both SA and Wales and I only know the name as a girls name, it's very feminine IMO.

Other Welsh girls names I like - Eluned with the nn Leni - one of the coolest people I know has this name. I also like Alys, Cari and Catrin.

Definitely don't like it pronounced the way you say - it's a mispronunciation rather than a variant, surely? But then i do come from a very Welsh part of Wales. I much prefer Rhiannon or Rhianydd, there are so many Rhians.

I don't have any negative associations with Rhian but just don't really like it as a name. Rhiannon is much nicer.

Rian is an Irish boys name, I have never heard of a girl called Rhian and would assume it was a boy if I heard it?

I've known lots of girls called Rhian and heard of no boys called Rian.

Depends on where you're from I guess.

Def a girl's name in my area (quite Welsh) and pronounced Ree-un. Agree that it's a bit 80s. Can be shortened to Rhi which I think is cool.

BTW The rh sound is aspirate not guttural (pedant )

Due a revival I think. I like it.

I know a very very lovely (and successful!) Rhian! And an equally delightful -although slightly bonkers- Rhiannon - known as Rhia! No negative associations here at all!