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Baby names

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Original poster

Anwen or iola

53 replies

Babybrain12345 · 09/09/2018 17:47

Hi I am welsh and live in Wales although not a welsh speaker but would like a welsh name for our baby girl but can't decide between Anwen or iola. DH loves iola (pronounced Yohla) but it is quite rare where we live so is getting mixed reactions, what do u prefer?

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Movablefeast · 10/09/2018 02:13

I love the pronunciation of Iola! But Anwen is also lovely.

sonlypuppyfat · 10/09/2018 02:52

I live I England and DS has a proper welsh name beginning with an I people struggle to read it but it's never presented any real problems

Sungura · 10/09/2018 05:56

Another vote for Anwen here.

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 07:11

I really like the name Iola but nobody outside of Wales will have heard of it or know how to pronounce it.

Funny that this is only ever an issue with Welsh names...... Hmm

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 10/09/2018 09:17

i know right, titty. But it's indicative of general English attitudes about what lies beyond the bridge..
Imagine an English person saying 'Angharad'..:)
Most of them would not even manage 'Iola'. she would get called 'eeey --ohh - larrr' or 'Lola'

Enko · 10/09/2018 10:33

Both gorgeous names IMO

sonlypuppyfat · 10/09/2018 14:10

I've an Angharad and yes it's been quite funny

pumpkinspicetime · 10/09/2018 14:17

titty It really isn't just Welsh names, You have the same issue with some Gaelic names as well. But if you haven't been taught a language it's not surprising you don't know how to pronounce words in it. When I attempted to pronounce Iola, I ran it through my head in the languages I know, that is all anyone can do.

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 14:49

But if you haven't been taught a language it's not surprising you don't know how to pronounce words in it. When I attempted to pronounce Iola, I ran it through my head in the languages I know, that is all anyone can do.

Indeed. But surely all it needs is for someone to tell you how to pronounce the name?

Or is that so much hassle that all not-easy-for-English-monoglots-to-say names should be vetoed?

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 10/09/2018 15:02

I know what you mean Titty. English are spectacularly (proudly?) bad at languages, or being told how to say something.
but what can you do? They are not going to change.

pumpkinspicetime · 10/09/2018 17:21

I wouldn't veto it for others but if my dc was likely to have to spend a lot of time explaining how to pronounce their name I would spare them that by picking another name. I'm not English and speak more than one language but picking an easy to pronounce and spell name just seems future proofing for my dc. A Spanish friend ran a couple of names choices by me to sense check how easy they were to read and pronounce in English so I don't think it is that odd to consider this.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 10/09/2018 17:27

Welsh is mainly phonetic so there is no mystique about pronouncing Iola. On seeing the name written down speakers of many languages would assume a pronunciation which would be correct or very close. 4 letters, 4 sounds. It really isn't that difficult.

That said I still prefer Anwen Smile

LellyM · 10/09/2018 17:36

Anwen

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 18:40

if my dc was likely to have to spend a lot of time explaining how to pronounce their name I would spare them that by picking another name.

So no:

Sara/Sarah
Clare/Claire/Clair
Stephen/Steven
Philip/Phillip
Mathew/Matthew
Linda/Lynda
Amy/Aimee
Ian/Iain
Catherine/Kathryn/Cathrine
Leanne/Lianne
Debra/Deborah
Stuart/Stewart
Jane/Jayne
Lauren/Loren
Elliot/Elliott
Tracey/Tracy

Even “straightforward” names can have different spellings/pronunciations.....

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 18:44

I can’t even see an issue with Angharad.

Ang - as in sang
Har - as in Harry
Ad - as in had.

Now, I can see the issue with Esyllt or Myfanwy

dw23 · 10/09/2018 18:56

My sister went to a Welsh speaking school and had a friend called Iola, I always thought it was kind of pretty and can't remember any issues with it but then they all spoke Welsh.. Anwen is more accessible and I'd say on balance a nicer name too. My cousin called his daughter Liliwen, I thought that was pretty cute as an alternative suggestion.

pumpkinspicetime · 10/09/2018 19:19

Indeed titty my DC have none of the names on your list and I ruled a couple of names like Siobhan that I liked because I thought they would fail the Starbucks coffee test. Until I got married I spent a long time spelling out my surname I thought I would spare me DC that, I got very bored of it.

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 19:30

Until I got married I spent a long time spelling out my surname I thought I would spare me DC that, I got very bored of it.

pumpkinspicetime · 10/09/2018 19:50

Sorry my not me ! My ability to spell and grammar check sadly got no better with my shiny new surname!

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2018 19:54

I hadn’t actually spotted that.

It was the name change/waiting for marriage/man’s name is easier stereotype.

pumpkinspicetime · 10/09/2018 20:06

My DH is English, he has the dullest surname in the world but it is a damm sight easier to spell than mine was. I wanted everyone in our family to have the same name so I changed mine as per convention. Not having to spell my name constantly was just a bonus.

Flamingosnbears · 10/09/2018 20:17

Iola is gorgeous - Anwen not so much.

Icklepup · 10/09/2018 20:21

Anwen...
Or Arwen

Heratnumber7 · 10/09/2018 20:27

I like Iola too, but I am also Welsh.
My favourite Welsh girls' name is Angharad.

MikeUniformMike · 10/09/2018 20:31

Iola - the 1st syllable rhymes with doll not roll. It doesn't rhyme with Cola or Lola.
Will be confused with Lola, Iona or Viola. It's ok.
Anwen - I think it's very dated and am not keen but lots of people like it.

As you would pronounce Iola as Yohla - I'd say pick Anwen, but there are plenty of other Welsh names you could choose (but I probably wouldn't be keen on any of those either).
Anwen's fine.