Welsh boy names

[Lenny86]

We are expecting a boy and would like a Welsh name, but we live in England, so it needs to be easy to spell and say. We both like Idris, but people were very negative when we suggested it for our first child (comments about the actor). I really like Osian, but OH isn’t keen. Any suggestions on a 1-2 syllable name that works in English too?

I would add 'I'm not even going to try and say that' (and much worse), 'I can't call you that, I'll call you ...', 'Why do you say your name is Einir when it is Eimear', 'I know how to spell it' (No, you obviously don't), transposed vowels (e.g. Gywn for Gwyn).

Yes, I've had that. Let's say my name is Sian. I've had 'I'll call you Jane instead as it's easier' even 'this is England and your parents should have called you Jane'

Then I've had 'it should be spelled Sharn'. Some people are just very rude.

Most people are complimentary though and make an effort to learn how to spell and say it.

Einir/Enya/Ena might have been a better example.

Einir is not easy but it's a bit like Ey-neerr (like Eynee with as rr on the end). Meinir is the same, and Eilir, a boy's name, follows the same pattern.

As a boy's name, I like Mostyn.

My name is Helen. Most people pronounce it hel-un. Some pronounce it hel-in. My Welsh friend uses a clear hel-en. Are any of those people wrong?

@NotAnotherHelen, None of them are wrong because Helen is Hellin, Hellun, or Hel-en because of accent. Helen is a Welsh form of Helen.

@NotAnotherHelen, A better comparison might be Amélie or Elodie. The anglicised Amelie and Elodie are not as pretty, but if you insisted on the original pronunciation, you'd probably get nowhere.

@CaffiSaliMali

I find reactions to Welsh names vary a lot in England. I was born and raised in England, with a Welsh name.

The vast majority of people either don't react, ask me the provenance of the name or compliment it and most people make an effort to pronounce it. I do get some rude comments though, from 'what on earth is that?' to 'can I call you X instead?' to 'oh I'll never manage that, I'll call you Y instead'. It gets misspelled a lot. My peers at school almost all learned how to say it, a sizeable minority of my teachers didn't.

Now I'm in London hardly anyone bats an eyelid at my name and I work with people with names like Geraint, Angharad and Hefin. I notice more positive reactions here. I would happily use a Welsh name for my own DC. Especially something like Alys, Mari, Mali, Tomos, Osian or Owen.

I would be cautious of some of the Welsh letters which don't exist in English though, like Ll. It's why I won't use Esyllt, my favourite Welsh name because I don't think I can live with 'Ess-ilt'

Is Mali a welsh name?

Never heard of it before until a colleague has named their little girl this and all I can think of is the African country.

I’m glad we agree then that flatly incorrect pronunciation is not the same as a valid regional variation of a pronunciation.

A better still comparison would be the use of Catherine or David in English and in French. Neither cath-rin or cat-reen, nor day-vid and da-veed, is incorrect.

Mali is a welsh name. Pronounced Mally and the equivalent of Molly.
Not Mah-lee.

Idris is popular in north wales. No one makes comments on the actor. Its a nice old fashioned name.
Tomos and arthur are also mutual ones that are equally as nice.

Hywel

Owen
Morgan
Dylan
Elis
Iwan
Tomos