Welsh/Celtic Boys Names

[fr4zzledmum]

We live in Wales. My husband is Welsh, I'm English - we both speak the language to varying degrees.

We already have a DD, who has a Welsh name - slightly anglicised by the spelling.

I'd like another Welsh name, but I can't think of many I like for boys. Any ideas?

So far I have Dewi, Dylan and Eilif.

I love Dylan

Macsen
Maddox
Bryn
Rhys
Griffin/Griff
Harri/Harry

I do like Bryn and Rhys but struggle to roll my r's so the pronunciation would be off, haha!

Gwion
Ieuan
Iestyn

I have an English other half who vetoed each of these as he couldn't say or spell them 😂😂

Iestyn just reminds me of school inspections (Estyn) 😂

I wanted Iestyn too but would have settled for Osian.

I am Welsh and my DH and I plan to give all of our children Welsh middle names. Our DS middle name is Rhys. We pronounce it the English way (without rolling the R) which I know is technically not correct but every Rhys I’ve ever met has pronounced it this way (I grew up in a predominantly English speaking part of Wales). I love the name Dylan and we’re probably going with that if we ever have another son. Other names we have considered:

Harri
Henri
Bryn
Owen
Evan
Rhodri

I like Dewi, Rhys, Wyn and Rhodri. My DD has a Welsh name and if it wasn't for that we might be considering one of these this time around. But with only 1/4 Welsh heritage and us living in England, I don't want to go too far with the theme!

Dewi - not been used much for about 50+ years. It's one of the Welsh forms of David, and then Dafydd then Deio became the popular version. Due a comeback

Dylan - very popular in the mid-20th century. Dislike the way the Dillun anglised pronunciation gets used.

Eilif - not a Welsh or Celtic name AFAIK, but Eilir is. 'Eil' tends to imply second as in runner-up. Elfed or Elfyn might be an alternative.

All the names suggested so far other than Macsen seem a bit dated. Ieuan, Iestyn and Gwion have never been overused so seem fairly fresh.

If you look at 'Welsh Baby Name' sites they have dodgy entries. The MN article on the subject is an absolute shocker.

Gawain

Idris

Alwyn and Geraint are two that come to mind that haven't been mentioned yet (I think!)

Not sure if Gawain is Welsh but it's Celtic.

Alwyn is an English name that is used in Wales, as is Elwyn but they seem dated. Geraint is Welsh but is also dated - might be ready for a comeback . They seem like names of 70 yr old men.

Small Welsh town I've driven through which I always thought would make a nice name was Caio.

I like Deri and Aneurin for boys.

Aneurin
Aeron
Idris
Sawel
Iago
Siarl
Taran

@ReadtheReviews , Cai is used. No reason why Caio isn't, and maybe it is. They're from Caius.

Deri makes me think of Pobol Y Cwm. Deri means 'Oaks'

I think Aneurin has a touch of an urine about it

How about Deiniol? Not overly used or too obscure. I know of two Deiniol's, both lovely boys!.

Emrys

Emlyn?

My dad was a Ieuan.

In reply to a pp I'm not sure Elfed would be a good idea, it would be like calling your kid Elmer!

Ianto
Ifan
Dafydd
Iago
Steffan

Emlyn - love this
Reece instead of Rhys
Griff
Hugh/Huw
Gareth

Gethin
Arthur
Ifor

I like Seiriol too but it’s pretty niche.

Tristan as another Celtic option?

I wouldn’t say that not being able to roll your Rs would be an issue in saying ‘Bryn’ especially (I’m a Welsh speaker and would pronounce it with an unrolled)

My dog is Dewi - he sometimes gets called Dewey!

David / Dafydd
Ivor
Roald
Iwan / Euan

If you want to avoid ones with an 'r', how about:
Osian
Cian
Cai/Caio
Cynan
Elis
Gethin
Owen/Owain
Lewis
Ilan
Ifan/Efan
Iwan
Mabon
Macsen
Nedw
Dafi/Dafydd
Sion
Ioan
Tomos