Using a country-specific name when you have no links to that place

[Ca55andraMortmain]

Didn't really know how to describe it in the thread title!

Basically I've always really liked the name Ianto. I think it goes well with the Mylo, sholto, Arlo trend but is nicer and more unusual (here, anyway). Obviously though it's a very clearly Welsh name. We aren't Welsh, don't live in Wales and have in fact never been to Wales. Is it too weird for us to use it? I'm not sure if most people hearing it would even know it was Welsh (we live in Scotland) but I don't want to seem like we're just appropriating names from someone else's culture.

[MaybeBabey]

It's fine imo.

Spend every holiday in Wales (if you choose this name)? ;)

[MikeUniformMike]

OP could use Ian/Iain on BC and use Ianto as a nn.

[Rockhopper81]

I think it's fine to use whatever name you like, as long as you (and they) are prepared to explain how to pronounce and/or spell it to non-native, or people not familiar with, the nation it is from.

For example, I have had an Aoife and Niamh in my classes (at different times). I have Irish family, so I know how to pronounce them, but I was pretty much the only member of staff who could both pronounce and spell them (it was a small, rural school)!

I have no Welsh connection, so had to look up how to pronounce Ianto - lovely name, but I'm not sure many people will know how to pronounce it in Scotland.

[MikeUniformMike]

Which Star Trek characters?

[clairethewitch70]

Use what ever name you love. I am Welsh and would probably assume you were Welsh, just say that you love the name, but have never been there. My kids are named after Star Trek characters, but I have never been into space

[MikeUniformMike]

Kevin is ok too.

[MikeUniformMike]

When you pick a name from a different culture or language, you run the risk of mispronouncing them, or subjecting a child to the nuisance of having their name misspelt, mis-said or laughed at.
You may also pick a name that is popular for an older age group than your child, it might seem new and fresh to you but in the native culture it's a bit of a Kevin or Sharon sort of name.
(I happen to think that Darren and Sharon are ok names but they do suggest a 1960s DOB)

[MikeUniformMike]

Is Ailbhe pronounced Alvya?

[TheOriginalEmu]

The only time I can think of where a name has felt a bit strange for me was a woman I met online who was called something similar to shabnam, who turned out to be a white English person with no Indian/Pakistani heritage at all. ...but it was no more than a fleeting ‘oh..ok then’ and that was it.

[Mammasmitten]

If you go on those websites that tell you the origin and meaning of names you'll find many common names have originated in other cultures. My first name is very common but it's origin has nothing to do with my country of origin or any of my descendants. If you're concerned that Ianto might be considered too unusual in the context of your culture but you really like it could you compromise and have it as a middle name?

[ladycarlotta]

Recently an Irish person really enthusiastically encouraged me to choose an Irish name for a future child. I was quite perplexed! Like, yes, Ailbhe is a beautiful name but IMO it would be super weird for a profoundly un-Irish person like me to use it. Knowing that there are political and cultural reasons for reclaiming Irish-language names and spellings, I'd feel v uncomfortable choosing a name like that simply bc it sounds pretty. Personally I don't feel I have that right.

I have a distant (caucasian, North American) relative who has a very lovely Persian name since her parents were living in Iran when she was born. You cannot imagine how little it suits her. It's almost comical.

I guess it comes down to whether you feel it's appropriate, on whatever level. Ianto is a gorgeous name - Welsh does good boys' names - so I totally get your predicament. My own litmus test is whether I can justify my use of the name any further than 'it sounds nice'. If not, then it's not for me.

[Offred2]

I think it’s fine - I’d never heard of the name Ianto til I read this thread but really like it!

Slight tangent but the only instance I can think of when someone’s name seemed a bit culturally jarring/inappropriate was when I met a Caucasian Scottish woman called Ebony.

[N0tLinked1n]

If it's Welsh then you don't need a link to wales! Isn't Wales in the UK??

I think if a name is WElsh, Scottish, Irish, French, Italian then it's fair game to all. If it's Japanese or Korean then people might ask you what the link was. Their curiosity would be normal i think.

[Glitterfish]

I have a Welsh name but no Welsh links. It's from a piece of music my dad loved. Occasionally have too explain it but the fact I'm Irish keeps it in the Celtic domain :)

[Looselytranslated]

It's lovely. But you must take him to Ianto's shrine in Cardiff bay and watch a Torchwood box set soon!

Are you Dr Who/Torchwood fans?

[Heratnumber7]

I agree Mike

[MikeUniformMike]

I'm from North Wales and wy (circumflex on the w) is not oi - it's nearer oo-i (i like in english bit, it, bin etc), but that's regional accents for you.

[TheOriginalEmu]

I'm in Swansea roughly, and Muh-van-oi is how my entire welsh speaking family, including grandparents were non-english speaking until their 30's would say it. they would also pronounce the word 'wy' meaning egg as 'oi' and 'wyau' as 'oi-eh'. in south walian welsh at least thats how we say it. and its much nicer imo.

[Osopolar]

I was born in England to English parents but have a Welsh name (although we did move to Wales when I was 4 and I have lived here ever since). My son has a Scottish name and neither DH or I are Scottish. Ianto is a lovely name, go for it :)

[Dixiestampsagain]

Indeed a lovely accent...I usually get called Cairt instead of Kate!

[MikeUniformMike]

That's the lovely south wales accent for you.

[Heartofglass12345]

Dixie I'm from south east wales too and I would pronounce it Yan-toe. I would also pronounce myfanwy muh-van-wee. But then so would my husband and he went to a welsh school and pronounces everything right lol

[Dixiestampsagain]

In these here South East Wales Valleys, it sounds (rightly or wrongly) very much like Yan-toe or even Yan-tore (the further up the valley towards Merthyr you go) mike

[Branleuse]

now i know its ianto and not Lanto, I like it even more.

I think foreign and regional names will often be mispronounced out-of-area, whether the parents have links to it or not. Usually you just correct someone once and then its fine..... Unless you have my daughters name, which people get wrong CONSTANTLY, even by people that know her