Enid, pronounced the Welsh way as "enn-id"

[Cwningen]

We'd like the name Enid for our baby girl, pronounced the Welsh way as "enn-id" rather than the English way "ee-nid". We live in an area of Wales where around 40% of people are Welsh speakers including myself, and we want a Welsh name but one that is not unpronounceable to non-Welsh speakers. So what are your opinions on Enid? Thank you.

@Cindie943811A

A bit off track but I knew a baby girl named Meredith. It was pronounced the usual English way of Merry-dith. Her mother was told by someone that the correct pronunciation was Mer- Ed- ith so she promptly started calling her daughter that. Child was about 12 months old at the time. No idea how she got on as I lost touch.

Meredith isn't really welsh. It's the anglicised form of a boy's name, Meredydd or Maredudd

I know a family with the surname Meredith and they say it as Meredydd

(mer-ED-ith, 'ith' rhymes with 'with')

I'm a first language Welsh speaking South Walian. I had an auntie Ee-nid and had no idea it was a Welsh name until I was an adult and heard someone pronounce it Enn-id (always associated it with Enid Blyton). I much prefer the proper pronunciation, so much prettier, and I'm glad the name is making a comeback.

@Cindie943811A

A bit off track but I knew a baby girl named Meredith. It was pronounced the usual English way of Merry-dith. Her mother was told by someone that the correct pronunciation was Mer- Ed- ith so she promptly started calling her daughter that. Child was about 12 months old at the time. No idea how she got on as I lost touch.

Ooo interesting - I've met several people with the surname Meredith and my instinct is to pronounce it Me-RED-ith if it's a surname, and MER-ridith if s first name. I've never even thought about it before though!

I like it. I’m English and know how the Welsh pronunciation should be.

The MER-ed-ith pronunciation is from the anglicised version.
Welsh always stresses the last-but-one syllable.

Meredydd is nice as a boy's name. It shortens to Merêd (accent means you stress the last syllable), so probably would be considered a bit femnine nowadays..

The MER-uh-dith pronunciation isn't very nice and seems american. I can't understand why someone would use it as a girl's name

Thanks for all your responses. We probably are going to go with this name, but still not completely decided. I just think Enid said the Welsh way is such a lovely name. It is true that outside Wales (and perhaps also within Wales in non-Welsh speaking areas), she would often have to correct people on her name, but they'd only have to hear it once to know how to say it. At least Enid is an easy name for English speakers to say, unlike some Welsh names such as Llinos and Lleucu. One of you suggested spelling it as Ennid, but I'm not too keen on that idea as its not how the name is meant to be spelled, and after a quick Google and Facebook search, I came across nobody in the English/Welsh speaking world with that name. A couple of other names we have in mind are Sioned and Bethan, but we think that Enid just sounds nicer.

I know a lovely Enid (Enn-id) - I'm in NW Wales. Love the name

I’m in west Wales and I’d pronounce it Enn-id. It’s a beautiful name. Hyfryd iawn

A couple of other names we have in mind are Sioned and Bethan, but we think that Enid just sounds nicer.

I'm older than you @Cwningen, and there are lots of Sioneds and Bethans around my age (50+). I only recall one Enid of about my age, and it seemed fresh and pretty then.

If you chose Sioned or Bethan, you would get the Sigh-oh-ned/Sigh-owned and Bethun outside welsh-speaking areas.

It is nice to see a pretty and underused suggestion.

I had an Aunty Enid who pronounced her name Ee-nid. That was in English speaking South Wales. I didn't know that there was a different pronunciation before opening this thread.

I'm in my 50s, and growing up I always thought of it as a pretty awful dated name. But there are lots of names which were old fashioned granny and grandad names when I was young and which have made a come back since then.

It's a nice name, makes a refreshing change. She will get Ee-nid a lot though so do think about whether that will annoy you or not. My Welsh name is mispronounced more often than not and it winds my Mam up no end, we are in England though. Enid is very easy to learn so hopefully most people will get it right once corrected.

I like Sioned and Bethan too. I know one Sioned and two Bethans, all in their 30s.

I am from the valleys, pushing 60, and until last year, I had never heard the name pronounced as anything other than EE-nid, (as in Enid Blyton) and I knew quite a number of people with that name when I was growing up. Having said that, I think I prefer the ENN-id pronunciation, but I am sure your daughter will get heartily fed up with correcting people throughout her life.

Where I am (clue's in the name) it's a perfectly normal, perfectly lovely traditional name getting a revival. People will have no problem pronouncing it properly i.e.: your way.

I’m English. Never heard the pronunciation Enn-id, it’s lovely. Obviously first off I’d assume Ee-nid if I saw it written down, but it’s hardly complicated. She, “no it’s Enn-id” and problem solved. Loads of names have several possible pronunciations, it’s not a deal breaker.

Ennid does sound nice. But I hate Eenid with the passion of 1000 fiery suns. That would be an 'I'm off down the deed poll office to change my name' as soon as legally permitted situation for me.

Well, now for a very late update. We did go with Enid (pronounced the Welsh way), and we're very glad that we did. We've had many compliments on the name from a lot of people. We've found that its rare for people to mispronounce it as Ee-nid. We've actually observed that informing people that there is an English form Ee-nid makes them more likely to mispronounce it, as it puts the association into their head.

Thank you all for the thoughts you expressed on this name, which helped us to decide upon it.

Helo @Cwningen. Llongyfarchiadau! Mae Enid yn enw hyfryd.
Dymuniadau gorau.

Congratulations, OP

As I'm sure you know, the character 'Enid' the very old Welsh story is strong, wise and splendid. www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/myths_mabinogion_geraint_and_enid.shtml

@KirstenBlest

Helo *@Cwningen*. Llongyfarchiadau! Mae Enid yn enw hyfryd. Dymuniadau gorau.

Diolch! Yn wir mae'n enw hyfryd. Dwi'n gobeithio i weld mwy o ferched babi o'r enw Enid yn y dyfodol.

[quote scottishnames]Congratulations, OP

As I'm sure you know, the character 'Enid' the very old Welsh story is strong, wise and splendid. www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/myths_mabinogion_geraint_and_enid.shtml[/quote]
Thanks! Yes I know about that tale of Enid and Geraint. Its a great story. It shows the fact that Enid is a very old Welsh name. Ancient, in fact.

I don't know if it is the same name, but there is an Old Irish name Aodhnat which is based on Aodh with the feminine ending -nat. It's pronounced roughly "Ay-nid".

It’s lovely either way. We’re in england and pronounce it that way and our Enid is delighted by her name – she thinks it’s pretty and unusual without being “raises eyebrows” unusual. Not frumpy at all.

Llongyfarchiadau!

Dwi'n gobeithio i weld mwy o ferched babi o'r enw Enid yn y dyfodol.

or
Diolch! Yn wir mae'n enw hyfryd. Dwi'n gobeithio i weld mwy o fabanod benywaidd o'r enw Enid yn y dyfodol.

Dwi'n gobeithio gweld

I think names are nicer if you only know one or two with the name