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Welsh girls names that work in England

165 replies

sallysparrow157 · 11/07/2019 16:58

My partner and I are both (North) Welsh but living in England, I’m pregnant with twin girls and so far have been pretty useless in thinking of names...

We’re looking for names that are easy to pronounce by non Welsh speakers and also don’t look like we’ve spelt it wrong just to be ‘interesting’!

I’m not a fan of names like Seren or Enfys.

I don’t really mind names that are seen as a bit dated (but on the other hand lots of names that were common in my generation are names of people I was in school with and didn’t get on with!)

Help!!

OP posts:
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wigglycactus · 11/07/2019 18:19

Betsi was on our Welsh girls names shortlist Smile

kittytiggy · 11/07/2019 18:23

My little sister is an Alys!!! LOVEEE that name. We are from north London born and bred (not Welsh at all!) and no one really has a problem, obviously she has to correct a few times.
My parents are apparently really inconsistent as my name is Emilie (French!), my older sister's name is Jamila (Arabic!) and my younger brother is Mario (Spanish!)

How about Eira? One of my favourites. Or Bronwyn with Bonnie as a nickname? It sounds so princessy IMO!

ryanreynolds · 11/07/2019 18:37

I love Mabli, Betsan, Nesta and Teleri.

Another exile here but ruled out Welsh names for a long and tedious reason!

MoreSlidingDoors · 11/07/2019 18:38

Cariad

Not a name

TheHumanSatsuma · 11/07/2019 18:39

Megan, Cerys, Bronwen

TheHumanSatsuma · 11/07/2019 18:41

Angharad, Sîan, Arwen

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2019 18:43

Hi OP, I don't like Seren or Enfys either.

Mabli is currently popular and rather nice, as is Mali (Pr.Mally not Mah-lee).
Gwen is cute.
Non is lovely.
Manon works.
Alys is ok but will get Alice spelling.
Elin and Catrin are nice but nicer in Welsh accent.
I like Dona like the saint (Llanddona) and I think it's a name in a Daphne Du Maurier book.
I think Lona works and I've always liked it.

Avoid the letter combinations ow, ei, eu, ae, au, ai, aw, iw. ce, ci, ge, gi, ngh, wy, ar and probably others I've not thought of
Avoid f, rh, ll, dd, u.
Avoid -in, -en, -an endings unless you don't mind the anglicised pronunciation.

I've posted dozens of times I'm sure, but go for names that sound exactly the same in Welsh and English, and are phonetic in both languages.

You could look at granny names like Bronwen, Menna and so on.

Try the names out on impartial non-Welsh speakers who can say the names out loud to you.

Don't even go near names like Buddug, Dyddgu, Lleucu, Llinos, Ceri, Eirian, Rhian etc. It won't matter a jot if people can be taught to say the names - they usually can't, you'll be subjecting the DDs to a lifetime of " What? ", " How do you say it? " " Did-goo? Bud-dug? Clee-oocoo, Clee-nose, Surree/Cherry/Cherie? Air-yun? Ree-Anne " etc.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 11/07/2019 18:45

Carys and Eryl.

MrsMoastyToasty · 11/07/2019 18:45

Keyna. She was a 5th century Welsh saint. (The town where I live --in England- is supposed to be named after her).

DivisionBelles · 11/07/2019 18:45

Lowri, Bethan, Catrin?

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2019 18:45

A vowel combination I missed was ia. e.g. Marian - nice enough but will get Marion or Marianne.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 11/07/2019 18:45

*cerys

Lou0390 · 11/07/2019 18:46

Seren
Ceri
Cerys
Sian
Eirlys
Anwen
Megan
Mena
Bethan

Rosiesandposies1 · 11/07/2019 18:49

People I know or have worked with (sorry if they have been mentioned), I am welsh, but not a welsh speaker, so I apologise if the spelling is not correct.

Sian
Bethan
Cerys
Ceri
Ceinwen
Catrin
Megan
Angharad
Rhiannon
Ffion
Seren
Lowri
Alis
Aneira
Anna
Delyth
Dilys
Efa
Eira
Elena
Enid
Erin
Gwen
Gwenna
Haf
Ifanna
Iola
Lili
Lynne
Mabli
Mair
Mari
Mallt
Nesta
Nerys
Nia
Non
Olwen
Rhian
Sara
Sioned
Tegan
Gwyneth
Tanwen
Aderyn
Arial
Betrys
Cari
Dafina
Jenna
Lilybet
Llinos
Mabli
Mairwen
Meredith
Mona
Morgan
Saffir
Tesni
Torri
Una
Morgana
Rhosyn
Petra
Elinor
Tegwen
Cerian
Cristyn
Arianwen
Beti
Betsan
Bronwyn
Carwen
Cariad
Carys

Kanga83 · 11/07/2019 18:56

I like Alys, Elin and Erin. I know a couple of welsh/English Merediths but I hear merry-death so I just can't warm to it.

Historydweeb · 11/07/2019 18:58

Eira and Tanwen
They mean 'snow' and 'white fire'

Heymummee · 11/07/2019 19:04

I love Manon, Delyth, Rhianwen, Eira, Cadwyn, Alys, Elin and Erin

noideaatallreally · 11/07/2019 19:04

Ffion
Catrin
Haf
Medi
Lowri
Tesni
Angharad
Megan

origamiunicorn · 11/07/2019 19:08

Cerys, Alys, Sian, Nia, Bronwen.. I work in England with women with all these names. All are English only one has Welsh heritage. They are easily pronounced too

soundsystem · 11/07/2019 19:10

I have an Arianwen and it doesn't get too badly mangled in England

LittleDoritt · 11/07/2019 19:10

Tecwyn

avocadoincident · 11/07/2019 19:12

Mabli or Wynne

avocadoincident · 11/07/2019 19:12

Betsan

Betsi

sallysparrow157 · 11/07/2019 19:26

Thank you everyone! Lots of potentials! You’ve convinced me to keep Alys on the list, Catrin, Elin, Megan, Bethan all potentials along with a fair few others - hadnt thought of Medi (they may well come in September so would be appropriate!!). Mabli, Nia, Angharad, Menna, Bronwen, Sian, tesni to mention a few all lovely but names of close relatives, friends (or friends pets!!). And Mali reminds me too much of learning to read (Sali Mali, the other one would have to be Pry Bach Tew....)

OP posts:
andannabegins · 11/07/2019 19:46

I would have Anwen and Beti