Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Mabli? (non Welsh family)

33 replies

Eleanor90 · 06/03/2020 16:08

We really like the name Mabli (MAB rhymes with TAB + lee)

It’s the Welsh form of Mabel, which we don’t like nearly as much. Is it too Welsh for a non-Welsh family? No Welsh links but we just came across the name and love it!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
TDL2016 · 06/03/2020 16:18

You’ll get questioned on the name as it’s unusual. Then you’ll have to roll out the whole story of how you aren’t Welsh, have no Welsh links, can’t speak Welsh, but just fancied a Welsh name. Your daughter will get the same. If you can put up with that every time you meet a new person, go for it.

AudaCityLimits · 06/03/2020 16:20

Am Welsh and agree with pp. I really wouldn't.

DropYourSword · 06/03/2020 16:21

I initially thought it would be pronounced MAY-blee so there’s the potential for people to not say it correctly

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 06/03/2020 16:22

I've never heard of it but it reminds me of Mobli from Jungle Book.
Think it seems like hard work

Guardsman18 · 06/03/2020 16:22

I really like it but can understand the May-blee! How about Mali?

tiredanddangerous · 06/03/2020 16:24

I’m welsh and agree it’s a lovely name. No one in England (where I live) would recognise it as a welsh name though. You will be explaining yourself a lot! As will she when she’s old enough.

Guardsman18 · 06/03/2020 16:27

Isn't he Mogli?!!

DropYourSword · 06/03/2020 16:33

I thought it was Mowgli from Jungle Book.

It does remind me of May Mobley from The Help.

StegosaurusRex · 06/03/2020 16:45

I'm Welsh and I say go for it. It's a beautiful name and you don't need to have a connection to the country to use it. Mali is also very lovely.

It is Mowgli in The Jungle Book :)

Guardsman18 · 06/03/2020 17:16

Oh - me and my spelling!

MikeUniformMike · 06/03/2020 17:17

It is pronounced MABBly - just like Madly, as in Truly, Madly, Deeply.

As Welsh names go, it is pretty and shouldn't cause problems.

Mali is also nice and is pronounced Mally. Not Mahly.

BobbyBlueCat · 06/03/2020 17:25

It's horrid.

What's wrong with Mabel?

MikeUniformMike · 06/03/2020 17:28

It's not horrid and it is popular in Wales.

I don't really see the point of using a name from another culture, so I'd rule it out because of that, and there are prettier Welsh names, but at least it is easy to say and pronounce.

Saucery · 06/03/2020 17:33

I love it. I would use it if not Welsh/living in Wales.

chalkiegirl · 06/03/2020 18:06

Not helpful I know - I'm Welsh and the only Mabli I know of is a cat!

LiveatCityHall · 06/03/2020 18:26

My DS has a very Welsh name and we have zero welsh connections we just absolutely loved it. We get asked where it's from but we never get asked if we're Welsh or have any welsh family.
If you love the name I'd say go for it. I think it's a beautiful name.

Doodlesquah1 · 06/03/2020 18:53

Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Mabli

user1493494961 · 06/03/2020 19:00

It's a very pretty name, agree with pp, if you love it, go for it. There's such a wide range of names now that Mabli won't stand out as being unusual.

CaffiSaliMali · 06/03/2020 20:12

Half Welsh half English here with a Welsh name, born and raised in England.
I got a lot of questions about my name growing up. Be prepared for that. It didn't bother me at all, but all I had to do was say 'yes, it's Welsh for X (english version of my name), my Mother's from Holyhead'. Eventually I just said 'it's Welsh, my Mam's from Holyhead' as a few people rather rudely decided my name was too hard to say and they'd call me the English version instead. English version is a lovely classic, but not my name! If you don't like Mabel, be warned some people will just call her Mabel anyway.

Mabli is nice, as is Mari (marry, Welsh for Mary). Mali is also nice as Mike said, not that I'm biased or anything...

Mabli is much nicer than Mabel.

nosleepp · 06/03/2020 20:13

Go for it if you love it

Theukisgreatt · 06/03/2020 20:14

I'm sure there are plenty of Welsh people with English names. I heard the name in a drama recently and thought it was sweet.

ZebraKid71 · 06/03/2020 20:41

I don't think the general population of England would know it was a Welsh name to be honest. I'd go for it. A huge percentage of people will use names from other languages/cultures. My daughters name is scandinavian and my sons is Hebrew. I'm Cumbrian.

Changedname81 · 07/03/2020 06:27

“Her name’s Mabli, it’s Welsh, we have no connections just really like the sound”

Not exactly a hardship ...Grin

It’s gorgeous OP

CherryMaple · 07/03/2020 06:35

Go for it OP!

84TinsOfBeans · 07/03/2020 07:23

I live in Wales. We have a Mabli. No one has ever heard of it where we live.

People ask name. I say Mabli. People say 'that's unusual'. I say it's an old Welsh name. People say 'oh'. We all move on.

None has ever mispronounced it from reading it. It often gets misspelled though with people adding an e or y on the end.

Use it if you like it and don't worry about it. People aren't that interested in other people tbh.