Welsh names

[lydia771]

We are both welsh, DP is fluent but I only speak basics. He is really set on having a welsh name for our baby, I'm also really keen on the idea but we keep clashing on names, I'm also not great with my pronunciation and I struggle to say DP's welsh name correctly 😂 obviously I need to be able to say the baby's name haha.

Girl (definitely want Grace as a middle name):

Seren - this is DP's favourite but I am just not keen on it
Efa (pronounced Ever) - loved it at first but have realised it sounds like someone saying Heather and dropping the H
Alys - both like
I love Tegan and Cadi but DP hates them.

Boy (Hayden for a middle name after DP grandfather):

Elis - DP fave, I'm not keen at all as reminds me of a horrible person I know with same name
Aron - Both like it but don't love it

I would love any suggestions please!

Seren - the welsh word for star. Don't like it. Likely to date badly.
Efa - pronounced Evva - Welsh for Eve. don't like it. Too similar to Ava, Evie, Eva, ...
Alys - great.
Tegan - god no. It's the word for toy.
Cadi - fine. Katy.

Elis - fine
Aron - ok, but I wouldn't choose it.

Be warned, you will get some strange suggestions, like names that were over-popular 50 years ago, or are not welsh, or that you won't be able to get right.

How about Iori, Ifan, Iestyn or Ianto for a boy. It's been a while since I heard of a baby Guto, and I've always liked the name.

I wonder if Adda gets used in Wales?

More traditional names are popular. Hywel and Gwilym are nice. Dafydd and Dewi are both welsh versions of David.

Elis is a fab name!

What is your DP's name?

If you are living in a Welsh community, fine, but if you are from a non-welsh speaking family or community, try the name out before registering the name. E.g. you might love Euryn.

A word of warning about Elis. He'll be Elsi to his pals.

Eleri
Eluned
Ffion
Llinos
Manon
Meleri
Gwenllian (this is the one we have ear marked if we have a girl)
Anwen

Gwydion/Gwydyon (I’ve seen it both ways but not sure if there is a correct version)
Alwyn
Afan
Derwen
Geraint
Osian

I feel like Seren has been done if you know what I mean. From your list I like Alys but either of the boys names, sorry!

Meredith
Rowena
Arwen
Bronwen
Bethan
Elin
Ffion
Nia
Delyth

Iwan
Dylan
Harri
Bowen
Cai
Dewi

Alwyn isn't welsh.
Don't call a boy Derwen, it's a feminine noun.
Afan is too close to Aflan

Gwydion is the right spelling. Gwydyon doesn't even look welsh.

Alys is lovely and on my list alongside Eira, Mari, Morwenna and Tesni.

Some other girls names:

Cadi
Catrin
Nia
Eirys
Eirlys
Eleri
Meleri
Teleri
Mali
Ceri
Nansi
Sali
Elin

Tegan is the Welsh word for toy so I would avoid that. My DH also really likes Seren. It's a nice enough sound, but I see it as more of a middle name. Not my main consideration, but my mother (native Welsh speaker) hates it. Then again, she did consider calling me Myfanwy. In England.

I like Elis but it's not on my list as my cousin has an Ellis. Also the first Ellis I met was a girl so it feels a bit feminine to me.

My boys list is Tomos, Osian and Macsen. My mother also dislikes the latter two names, as she's not heard of them before. I took great pleasure in telling her about Osian a Nia/Oisín and Niamh and Macsen Wledig

I like Aneirin/Aneurin and Taliesin too, but they're a bit too Welsh for my DH!

Emlyn
Owen
Owain
Gwion
Geraint
Idris
Eifion
Aled
Alun

Some of those are probably a bit dated - the Alun and Eifion in my family are almost 80.

I like Alys and Elis. How about Ffion for a girl?

I love Macsen. So strong. I would probably break into yma o hyd if I met a baby Macsen but don't let that put you off

Iolo or Gwion.

@KillerofMen

I love Macsen. So strong. I would probably break into yma o hyd if I met a baby Macsen but don't let that put you off

Well you've sold the name to me

Haf for a girl = summer.

Especially for you two

Baby brain - when I said I loved Tegan I meant Tesni! 🤪

I love Macsen! I mentioned Macs the other day and DP wasn't keen but he likes Macsen. Never heard it before it's lush. Surname begins with M though so does sound a bit odd sadly.

We are in South Wales and don't think Seren has been overdone, DP is a primary teacher and says he's only ever met one or two kids named Seren in his career.

I just keep hoping for a name to pop up and we both instantly fall in love with it but I don't think that's realistic haha.

I'd think twice about using a name that is also a noun.

Seren Grace Jones sounds like Grace Jones' star
Haf Grace Jones sound like Grace Jones' summer etc.

I know you said your surname started with M.

Sioned and Angharad are my favourite Welsh names for girls.

I really like Elis. How about Tomos?

Tesni is fabulous OP, I really like it.

Seren is currently ranked 181 in the name stats for England and Wales, 290 were born in 2018. It was ranked 539 in 1996, so it has had a big jump in popularity. It seems to be falling a bit in the last few years.

@MikeUniformMike - marvellous. I recently introduced DH to Sosban Fach and he loves it. He bursts into 'a'r gath wedi sgramo Joni fach' whenever the cat comes in

Mali and Cadi are my favourite girls names and I like Iestyn and Dylan for a boy.

I like Alys and Elis.

Tesni, Mali, Alaw, Iestyn and Macsen are my favourite Welsh names.