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Original poster

Welsh names for a girl

95 replies

Zanzan1 · 06/10/2019 18:47

Hi I'm looking for a Welsh girls name but would like to hear from people living in England what works and what doesn't. We live in England at the moment and I am wary of my DD having to put up with people struggling.

I really like Essyllt but know this might be a problem. Would like something a bit more unusual.

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MikeUniformMike · 07/10/2019 17:51

It certainly shouldn't be.

It is a word with many meanings - love, sweetheart, darling, charity, girlfriend, boyfriend.

NearLifeExperience · 07/10/2019 19:27

A lot of the names suggested are dated. They are names that would have been very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. (Eirian, Eleri, Carys, Rhian...)

That’s interesting, MUM ; I live in South Wales - not Welsh though - and know a few young Eleri’s, Carys’s and Rhian’s... (no Eirians though!). Maybe the popularity of certain names depends on where you are?

Anyway, OP, my favourite welsh names are Ceinwen (nn Ceini), Sioned and Anwen.

gillybombilly · 07/10/2019 19:57

MikeUniformMike:

All of the names that I listed have been considered for names by our family, and we are well aware of their meanings.

They certainly do exist.

MikeUniformMike · 07/10/2019 19:59

NearLife, Ceinwen is an old person's name, and not easy to get right if you don't speak welsh. The first part isn't pronouced Cane.

I would guess the parents of Eleri, Rhian and Carys are not Welsh-speakers. Anwen seems very dated to me. It was old fashioned in the 70s. The sort of name your friend's aunty would have if you were born in the 1970s.

Sioned was very popular in the 1960s and 70s but didn't fade away.

I'm from the north.

Bryn and Gareth crop up on nearly every Welsh boy's name thread but are names that are common in the 50-65 age group.

BertrandRussell · 07/10/2019 20:02

I know a family called Bethan, Cerys and Rhian. Probably spelled wrongly, sorry.

BertrandRussell · 07/10/2019 20:06

The comedian Cariad Lloyd talks about how her name is a problem for her among welsh people- she was working with a director who asked if he could call her something else because Cariad was what he called his wife....

BestIsWest · 07/10/2019 20:06

My great aunt born in 1904 was a Ceinwen. I find it very hard to associate it with little girls today. But then, look at some of the English names which have made a come back.

NearLifeExperience · 07/10/2019 20:07

NearLife, Ceinwen is an old person's name, and not easy to get right if you don't speak welsh. The first part isn't pronouced Cane

Thanks, I know how to pronounce it Smile And the one I know is 20, not old.

The Anwen I know is 5!

CottonSock · 07/10/2019 20:12

I like Arwen, Anwen, Nia, Erin, Nansi.

CottonSock · 07/10/2019 20:14

Oh and Megan, as I have used that name on dd.

Doilooklikeatourist · 07/10/2019 20:15

Sian
Mabli
Catrin
Enfys

Pieceofpurplesky · 07/10/2019 20:20

I love
Eirian
Angharad
Manon

notso · 07/10/2019 20:27

I know a few Anwens under 10.

Still not getting the different i sounds. The only different ways of saying i to me are an eye sound like in site or an ih sound as in sit.
I don't think my accent isn't Welsh at all though unless I speak to English family who think it is.

MissPepper8 · 07/10/2019 20:34

I like Seren but wondered if it was a bit too cheesey and same for Cariad too? Do people think they are?

Love Ffion and Catrin. The issue is (being from Wales and living in England for periods if time) is how they will pronounce it but equally I guess you could say if you're not in north/West Wales anyway people might get it wrong.

WellTidy · 07/10/2019 20:35

Keep an open mind, OP Smile

Everyone will have a different opinion. I am welsh, with a welsh name, born in Wales but now living in a England. My name is mispronounced on a daily basis, and there are only so many times that you can correct someone without feeling rude.

My advice would be to keep it short.

Bethan
Ffion
Megan
Nia
Anwen
Betsan
Carys

My favourite by a country mile - Catrin

Fsid00 · 07/10/2019 21:05

My four year old is a Lowri. I love the name.

But when we lived in Buckinghamshire I had to repeat it at least twice every time someone asked what her name was.

And then it always sounded like they were calling her Larry to me Grin. Back in Wales now

MikeUniformMike · 07/10/2019 21:12

Spelt perfectly Bertrand.
Catrin is a classic. Lovely.

TypicalMeBreakMyTypicalRules · 07/10/2019 21:44

Nia

june2007 · 07/10/2019 21:49

Well Rhiannon may not be a traditional welsh name but it,s routes are welsh and i have known a few.

june2007 · 07/10/2019 21:49

Lowri I tend to think of the artist or the tv presenter.

NoSauce · 07/10/2019 22:37

Glenys, Gladys, Glynis.
Myfanwy
Gwyneth
Olwyn

You’re not being serious here?

june2007 · 07/10/2019 22:46

Why not. a few have suggested Olwen. (as I have been told it is spelt.) A few have suggested Mafanwy, So can't be that bad. And personally I really like Gwyneth. (no matter how genuinly welsh.). These are just ideas if you don't like skip on. I don,t like Dillys very much or Seren but each to there own.

Saisong · 07/10/2019 22:48

Esyllt has English derivations in Yseult and Isolde, and even in Italian as Isotta. It is a beautiful name.

NoSauce · 07/10/2019 22:58

Glenys, Gladys, Glynis?

It’s like suggesting Carole, Brenda and Sheila. Sorry but you just wouldn’t would you?

FreyaMountstuart · 07/10/2019 23:01

Welsh - but not in Wales. Please don’t use Myfanwy - even in Wales my friend was tormented at school as ‘my fanny’ !!

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