Welsh names that are easy to say

[SaliMaliydwi]

We live and work in Wales but DS/DD wouldn't be going to a Welsh speaking school and we don't live in a primarily welsh speaking area.

We like the idea of using a welsh name but would like one that is easily understood if they were to grow up and want to work elsewhere. I know people will learn to say a name but I can't bear it when I hear Sky sports talk about Geraint Thomas 😂

So we are looking for names that would be suitable really. We like Anwen and Macsen but need some more suggestions please?

Dion and Caitlin aren't welsh.
Not heard Garan or Esta before.

Taran is awful, sorry - it's Thunderclap.

I love Aderyn for a girl.

I love Geneth for a bird's name.

I have a friend called Lois. In Wales it's pronounced Loyce to rhyme with voice. A lot of non Welsh say it as in Lois Lane which she doesn't mind. Some say it as Lice though which she hates. (not surprisingly).

Angharad - lovely name and only marginally mispronounced by the English

Ann Harrod or Ann Garrod.

@MikeUniformMike

I love Geneth for a bird's name.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider Evan and Gavin? There’s not even a ‘V’ in the Welsh alphabet!

Call them a name you like and don’t stress about it. Mine are Taliesin and Iolo - we weren’t living in wales when we had our eldest but are now - their names have never been an issue! Tali probably has one of the easier names to pronounce in his class of mainly non welsh names. People ask once then usually get it right. If they don’t the kids are quick to correct them!

I don't know if it's the same throughout Wales, but if you described someone as 'dipyn a aderyn' it isn't a compliment.

Seren Efa is Eve's Star, so also a bit

Emrys

Iestyn

Iori

Siân is also known by most (though I've met little English Sians pronounced See-anne).

@doctorhamster there's not even agreement between North Wales and South Wales on lots of pronunciations...so could you expect English people to know? (I pronounce things the North Wales way)

I know a Taran!

Mally mentioned upthread is not spelled the Welsh way. It would be pronounced completely differently to how it looks if you used the Welsh pronunciation as the LL sound make the 'thl' (sort of) sound that you get in Llangollen. Mali is the Welsh spelling.

Unfortunately I'm yet to meet an English person that can pronounce Welsh names correctly. Even the ones that should theoretically be easy seemingly aren't.
This.

there's not even agreement between North Wales and South Wales on lots of pronunciations...so could you expect English people to know? (I pronounce things the North Wales way)
That is dialect, and doesn't really apply to names.
Names are phonetic so the pronunciation is the same in N. and S. Any difference will be due to accent.

The only exception I can think of is Siwan (SHOO-ann/S-EWE-ann), and both are correct.

Threads like this one always remind me of the saying "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing".

Easy Welsh names to pronounce-

Catrin
Ela
Efa
Siân
Elin
Nel
Mali

Cai
Siôn
Aled
Efan
Tomos

Lloyd Rhys Owain Aled Gareth Iwan

Alys Seren Catrin Bethan Ceri

Thanks for correcting my spelling of Mally, thinking about it ive only heard my colleague refer to her daughter, don’t think I’ve seen it written down!

I'd agree with a PP that English people can do things to welsh names that you couldn't even imagine. Siân pronounced with an a instead of an â is not pretty...

I find it hard to know how to say Welsh names when speaking English without sounding like I'm mocking Welsh accents. Names like Morgan, Dylan and Angharad are good examples. I would feel uncomfortable if someone said my (Irish) name the Gaelic way.

Why Sean?

If I was talking about one of the many Dylans or Angharads I know I would just say Dylan or Angharad. There's only one way to say the name - the way he or she uses it.

If I was referring to the Morgan car, I'd probably say it the english way.

For boys I like Rhys, Dylan and I always thought that Cayden was a Welsh name but now I can’t seem to find it so I’m not sure.

For girls I like Meredith, Megan, Tegan and Cerys, although I met someone who spelt it Keris and I’ve always preferred this spelling.

@MikeUniformMike if I say Angharad I always schwa the last a. I know that does your head in, but if I say it as a then it sounds like I am being silly.
If someone asked me to say Dylan the Welsh way in an English sentence I'd feel equally silly.
I have Welsh-speaking family who have Welsh names. When we are talking in English we all use the usual English pronunciations. I asked the children when they were little how to say their names and they said they wanted the different forms used.

@MikeUniformMike

I don't know if it's the same throughout Wales, but if you described someone as 'dipyn a aderyn' it isn't a compliment.

Seren Efa is Eve's Star, so also a bit

You wouldn't literally translate it that way would you? I'd have thought the 2 naves together would be Evening Star