Huw??

[Bovnydazzler]

I'm currently pregnant with DS #2.

The shortlist is

Huw
Ewan
Thomas (we'd call him Tommy/Tom)

We have a long, hard to pronounce surname so want something fairly short.

My DH loves Huw and that's his face by far I think it's nice (think Huwy really cute for smaller children) but a bit worried Huw looks like a made up name.

My husband is Welsh hence the spelling. We've argued over the spelling of Ewan, he prefers Iwan (the Welsh version) but I think with our surname I don't want our son to have a first name and a surname no one can pronounce.

Hit me with it!! What do you think of Huw (and the #2 and #3 names)? Any other names that could be thrown into this mix?

Love it (but then we have one in the family who is a smashing bloke so I may be a little biased)

I think it's lovely! Sorry no other suggestions. Go for Huw!

Love them both but especially Huw I'm Welsh and therefore slightly biased!

3/3 so far, I was expecting a barrage of people saying it's not a proper name! I've asked a couple of people in real life (not Welsh) and the response has been decidedly muted!

Oh it definitely looks like a proper Welsh name to me, but then I'm Welsh! You could also have Tomas/Tomos as the welsh spelling of Thomas but I guess that could look made up too.

I'm not a massive fan of the name Huw personally, just cos I think there are nicer Welsh boys names out there but I definitely wouldn't worry about it looking like it's made up. I reckon it's well known enough, even in England.

Huw is very nice.

I like all your suggested names, and like you I prefer the spelling Ewan to Iwan.

Of course it's a proper name - it's just a proper name in another language. Celtic names sometimes seem to get that sort of reaction on here though (am Irish and leaning towards an Irish name), but I see you have lovely positive feedback so far!

It's a nice name op, I say go for it.

Hmm maybe I am being tempted. I'm not Welsh, and have taken on a long Eastern European surname which people take one look at and decide is unpronounceable, so I guess I'd have preferred a more 'classic' name, it's jut that Huw is so cute (and far better than the Hugh spelling). Maybe it stays at the top of the shortlist for now then!

Love the name but having been given a name that can be spelt in more than one way I'd say no....I hate having to spell my name especially since I married and have a last name that I have to spell too!

From what you say your son will have to spell and pronounce his last name and giving him a first name that doesn't need spelling out might be easier for,him?

Love Huw! I've inly ever known lovely Huws. I also think Iwan is nicer than Ewan. But I do live in Wales and both DS1&2 have very Welsh names.

Huw is Welsh and is pronounced Hoo.

Huw is lovely. I've only met one Huw and he was especially lovely

I like the name Huw and the acknowledgement of his Welsh heritage, but I am inclined to agree with BornInThe60s that if he's goig to have to spend his life spelling his surname, it might be kinder to go with a name everyone can spell, which, from your list might be Thomas.

I am not Welsh but I have definitely seen this spelling and I like it.

There are pronounciation issues - the correct pronounciation (up north anyway) is Hiw (can't think of a better way to explain it) but I've heard a lot of English people pronounce it 'Hoo' and 'Hyoo', and down south too.

It's a lovely Welsh name :)

Would we tell a Muslim to call their child a less ethnic name because they have a difficult surname and it would be "kinder" to call the child something like Thomas?

No.

So why do so many posters on MN think it's fine to dismiss Welsh/Irish/Scottish names?

Lots of names can be spelled more than one way, would be easier to list the ones which can't.

Huw off the BBC News is on my TV all the time - it's quite a well known name I think.

eh?
What has this got to do with a person's religious beliefs? For all I know the OP might be a muslim.

We're being asked for opinions on names.
I said, I like the name Huw. Being of Welsh heritage myself, I know a couple and love it.

However, having grown up with a forename that is commonly spelt in different ways (think Jayne and Jane) and a surname I always had to spell for everyone, I personally wouldn't inflict it upon anyone. My opinion. Nowt to do with religion, and all to do with personal experience.

You are being deliberately obtuse. I was referring to culturally Muslim names not religious beliefs

I got slated for planning on giving DD a Welsh name. People told me she'd be called 'ceiling'.

It's never been mispronounced, and we're constantly complimented on what a lovely name she has. MN gets really funny about 'foreign' names.

Here, here Alis (hope you and the baby are well by the way, what did you have?)

Huw is lovely OP

Noooo it's not pronounced Hoo! It's pronounced hue. And if there's any danger of him being a hoo I'd rethink the name. That would drive me dotty!

Love Huw, and agree that it is pronounced huw not hoo.

I prefer Iwan to Ewan.

I know lots of boys called Tomos nn Tomi if you want to put a Welsh slant on that.

Thanks all for the responses!

I guess to me, I'm guessing that most people will pronounce it the way I would (probably the non proper way), Hyoo (as in the news reader).

I guess I feel pronunciation is slightly more important than people getting spelling right, particularly as at least it is a short word to spell! That's why I have vetoed Iwan over Ewan as I think lots of non Welsh people (we live in England) may pronounce it 'eye-wan'

But I am still in agreement that if we have a complex surname, the first name should be easy, but I think our preference for Huw may outweigh my doubts.

All is very well, Cer, thanks for asking .

I had a little girl, called her Lara. She's lovely and so far seems to like her sleep!