Welsh Baby Names Living in London

[QuintillaTortilla]

So DH is Welsh, and I'm technically English (lived overseas for 80% of my life). We live in London now.

He wants to name our little girl a Welsh name, so far he has:
Lleucu
Esyllt
Heledd-Flur
Goleuddydd

Wouldn't have the slightest idea how to even begin to pronounce any of those. Why would you give a child a name like this if she didn't live in Wales?

Sorry I clicked send too soon..

The point of my post was that, is it unfair/culturally insensitive if I agree to a Welsh name but suggest we go for something 'easier'

Maybe like Gwen? or Blod?

Mali? Or Lowri?
I agree, those suggestions could be difficult in London!

I teach in central london and there's a huge range of names ranging in origins. Often that I need to hear pronounced to know how to pronounce them. I wouldn't be put off by the non-anglophone spelling/pronunciation, if you both like the names!

There are loads of gorgeous Welsh names that would be lovely, but those are awful. As for Gwen or Blod, you're surely on a wind up.

How about Tesni, Carys, Nia, Ceri, Rhian, Anwen?

So many nice easier Welsh girls names

Manon
Mali
Bethan
Elin
Mabli
Lowri
Neli
Cari
Sian
Elan
Mair
Nia
Olwen
Tesni
Bronwyn

I work with an Esyllt by the way and I answer the main phone line. Everyone outside North wales who phones for her has a nightmare with pronouncing it. They don't even get close. It's a nice name but please don't do that to you child if you are not living in North West Wales

Esyllt is a beautiful name but I can see how it could prove tricky outside Wales.

Megan
Nel
Elin
Alys
Elinor
Seren
Nansi
Carys
Elsi
Siân
Mari
Lora

Might be easier to pronounce?

I can see that Heledd-Flur and Goleuddydd could be challenging names to carry but for the love of all that is holy pleeeease do not call your daughter Blod!

Blod?!

Gwen, Mali and Lowri are all adorable.

NO TO BLOD.

I'm Welsh and it was important to me that the children had Welsh names. My husband was happy with that but wanted names his English parents could pronounce easily, so that was the compromise. Lleucu is actually one of my very favourite names but was out on that basis. I didn't feel offended by that. Sometimes when I meet a child with a Ll in their name (all my favourites had a Ll!) I get a slight pang, but I think it's right that there's compromise involved in choosing names.

But also don't call the poor kid Blod.

Please don't give her a welsh name that non-welsh speakers won't be able to say or write.

I know 2 people this happened to, they absolutely hate their names and are forever having to correct people, spell it out or explain where the name came from.

I'm Welsh, living in wales (albeit not a Welsh speaker) and have never heard of any of those names apart from Heledd on its own. So not exactly traditional. Few people will know how to pronounce them, including some Welsh people. That might not be a reason not to use them, but it is a consideration, and your heritage and opinions are as important as his, so nothing wrong with giving your opinion. Loads of lovely Welsh names which will be easier to live with. Also, consider if it is something loads of people find hard to pronounce, she will end up shortening it / with a nickname anyway.

Sorry OP but I think using one of those names when you don’t live in Wales is going to make life difficult for your daughter and she may well end up hating her name.

I don't think it's culturally insensitive at all, I'm Irish and there are definitely some particularly difficult Irish spellings I would avoid if I was living in London to make the child's life easier. Anyway there are lovely Welsh names that are easier to spell; I personally like..
Eleri
Alys
Rhiannon
Carys or Cerys
Cari
Eira
Nia
Seren
Rowena

But just to say, if you can't find a Welsh name you love, you don't need to agree one just to honour your husband's heritage; both you and your husband should like the name, so if you can't find one you love you could always use an English first name and a Welsh middle name?

A Welsh name? Absolutely! But those are some quite high level choices! I live in Wales and wouldn’t be confident.

Heledd is lovely
Fflur is lovely but harder to say
Heledd-Fflur might be a bit much.

I still think you can go biggish!

Eira
Eiri
Gwenllian
Anest
Angharad
Arianwen
Mabli
Betsan
Ffion
Elin
Mared
Mererid

Or a Welsh spelling of a well known name?

Alys
Elsi
Nansi
Sali

Esyllt is fine I think and I quite like it

The rest are nuts if you aren’t in Wales

Ffion
Olwen
Anest
Carys
Catrin
Gwendoline / Gwen
Gwyneth
Lowri

are all lovely

Welsh names that would just be unusual spelling variants in England like Nansi, will be a PITA so I’d avoid those too

I always thought Blod for Blodeuwedd or Blodwyn was quite cute!

I agree that something like Mabli or Eleri might be easier on our girl. But some names are a bit too popular for our liking eg Seren, Cerys, Ffion.

Of DH's suggestions I really like Esyllt. Can't stand Flur though

I love Lleucu, but I'm Welsh.

How about Siwan, Catrin, Angharad, Llinos?

I think those Welsh names are too complicated tbh, and I'm someone living in England with a relatively obscure Welsh name. I don't think you necessarily have to have an 'easy' Welsh name though, I do not mind spelling my name when asked.

Favourites of mine:
Eira
Siriol
Alys
Menna
Mabli

I'm very Welsh and would struggle with those names. Lot of lovely ideas on here for more pronounceable names that still sound Welsh

… Blod is not cute. Well, maybe for a bloodhound or something.

Of DH's suggestions I really like Esyllt. Can't stand Flur though

Esyllt is lovely. I presume it's the Welsh version of Iseult or Isolde?

Flur looks clunky.

(erase Blod from your mind, it's truly truly awful)

Mabli is a very cute name. But not so cute that it wouldn't work well for an adult.

Arianwen is a lovely Welsh name!