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Original poster

thoughts on Berwyn

36 replies

Mlc2022 · 31/05/2022 21:20

Me and my DH really like the name Berwyn (pronounced bear-win) but we have had mixed reactions. We love the name Bear and Bear will be his nickname but i think Berwyn is a better full name especially when his an adult. It is a very uncommon name but we really like it, just don't want my child to be picked on for an unusal name!

OP posts:
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KeyErro · 31/05/2022 21:27

Really don't like it, but I think Bear is an unpleasant sound and it's not improved by another syllable.
You're the ones who'll be saying the name hundreds of times a day though so if you like it then go for it.

YellowHpok · 31/05/2022 21:27

I love the name Berwyn, but its not pronounced Bear-Wyn.

Its more Beh-Oh-wen. Kinda. Definitely three syllables though.

It's not even remotely unusual in Wales. I know at least 3 and they are all in their mid 50s.

Sofiatheworst · 31/05/2022 21:27

It’s the name of a prison

SummaLuvin · 31/05/2022 21:29

Unappealing and clunky.

I would also make the incorrect assumption that its was a girls name based on the 'wyn' ending. This might be a me issue. It also might not bother some parents, I have a unisex name myself and it doesn't phase me I am frequently assumed to be a man based on name before people meet me, but thought it worth mentioning.

I don't think it would cause bullying, but I'm very much of the opinion that while names can be used as ammunition by bullies, they are very rarely the route cause and a child won't be picked on because of their name, especially in modern days where there is a much wider variety of names than just Emily, Hannah, James, and Daniel. Worth remembering that kids can make any name into a cruel nickname if they want "psycho Sarah" was in my school and it's hard to imagine a more popular name for the time.

BlueKaftan · 31/05/2022 21:29

Anwen or Bronwen

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 31/05/2022 21:31

I'd be giving it 3 syllables too.

Babayagadreamhome · 31/05/2022 21:33

You forgot the rolled R in the middle, OP. Adore the name though!

To a previous pp - Wyn is masculine, Wen is feminine.

BestIsWest · 31/05/2022 21:35

I’d pronounce it Ber - wyn with the Ber almost like Bear but shorter and with a rolled ‘r’.
I’ve never heard it with 3 syllables.
I like it.

FfeminyddCymraeg · 31/05/2022 21:36

As a Welsh person I wouldn’t say Bear-win.

I’d say Beh-or- wen. I wouldn’t even consider it close to Bear 🤷🏼‍♀️

HalfBrick · 31/05/2022 21:37

You've got to pronounce the r! Ber (like the start to error) wyn. Not seen on anyone under 50 as a pp said so would be cute on a little boy. If you're outside Wales you'd probably get a lot of bur-wyn like Irwin.

DropYourSword · 31/05/2022 21:39

I would have assumed it was pronounced burr-win rather than bear-win.

I think Bear is cute.

But honestly, if you don't want your child to be picked on for having an unusual name, the best way to avoid that is by not giving them an unusual name.

carefullycourageous · 31/05/2022 21:39

I like it as a name in its own right but if you give a Welsh name I think you need to use the correct pronunciation or people will constantly be thinking you are a bit silly. As people above have said, it is not 'Bear-win'.

0utwitted · 31/05/2022 21:40

I'm not welsh, and I would have guessed that the pronunciation was Bear Win
But if it isn't, and Welsh people know it isn't, then don't use it if what you really want is Bear.

carefullycourageous · 31/05/2022 21:40

I don't think kids are picked on for having unusual names. Loads of kids are not picked on at all for their names, the vast majority.

Ishka · 31/05/2022 21:41

It's the name of the huge prison in Wrexham (biggest prison in the uk!) so people in the NW and N Wales would probably associate it with that?

Original poster
Mlc2022 · 31/05/2022 21:54

Yes sorry it is pronunced like BER-WihN, still think Bear could be a nickname for this.
I just really like an unusal name and once you have heard it a few names becomes just the normal.
Bit of a shame its also the name of a large prison, but i still really like the name so it's not enough to put me off.

OP posts:
PattyMelt · 31/05/2022 21:56

I'm Welsh I associate it with little old men Not a very nice name, especially after the prison is named that.

Tillymint10 · 31/05/2022 21:56

As above, name of a large prison!

PattyMelt · 31/05/2022 21:57

What about using Behr.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 31/05/2022 21:59

If you aren't Welsh don't do it

RuthW · 31/05/2022 22:01

I like it

mogtheexcellent · 31/05/2022 22:02

I met a boy in the park recently who was Beren his dad called him bear.

I think the name is Tolkien.

Justkeeppedaling · 31/05/2022 22:07

Berwyn is not pronounced bear-win.

It's berr-wyn. The r is rolled and the e is short.

carefullycourageous · 31/05/2022 23:37

mogtheexcellent · 31/05/2022 22:02

I met a boy in the park recently who was Beren his dad called him bear.

I think the name is Tolkien.

Oh good idea, I like Beren. www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Beren.html

GogLais · 01/06/2022 11:33

@YellowHpok , your pronunciation is not right. It is definitely not three syllables. It would be spelt Beowyn the way you say it.

Berwyn is BERR-win, BERR like in berry, win like in win-win

It's quite a dated name.