Welsh girl's names... bit of a different request...

[Arlanymor]

... not for a baby - for me!

I've gone by my middle name my whole life - it was the one my parents have always called me - but I dislike my first name (the name I am never called except anywhere where there are official documents - like at the GP surgery). I like it on other people but it means nothing to me and there is no familial or cultural link with it, it's just a very generic name.

I raised the issue last week with my parents of finally changing my first name and they have been very supportive. I was willing to change my first name to another with the same initial to keep my current initials - to mirror my dad's - but having spoken to him last night he doesn't mind at all about that.

So... exciting times... I get to choose my own middle name! I could just stick with my middle name and my surname and jettison my first name altogether... but I really like the idea of choosing my own middle name. In fact I'm quite excited by the prospect!

So please can you throw your favourite Welsh baby names at me (I'm female).

I quite like Cadi, (An)Eira (I was born when it was snowing)... names you hear a bit less frequently. Not sure I have the gumption to plump for Tangwystl mind you! Oh and my name is Rhian, so can't have Arianwen or similar. Diolch!

Aww, I think so too! I know a Delyth and we have a Manon in the family, but both great names. Makes me really realise how many gorgeous names there are out there. Buddug is so epic isn't it?!

Right shortlist coming up...

I see you've already had Eluned suggested but that would be my favourite. Good luck OP!

I'm homesick for Swansea now - I was born and bred there but have been in Cardiff for 24 years. Swansea will always be home though.

Thank you SO SO SO much - diolch o galon - for all of the suggestions.

You've been amazing and I appreciate it so much.

So having weighed everything up and stress tested against the following factors:

1. Will my initials be ok? (Cadi is out - am so sad!)
2. Does it fit with Rhian (reading aloud really helped with this in both English and Welsh - some names were so pretty on the page, but didn't work)
3. Does it fit with my surname (undisclosed obviously - but it has a sibilance that again has to fit)
4. Two syllables works best and matches my first name and surname - again that whole 'it sounds better that way' thing when read aloud
5. Will my dad just veto it out of hand! No Myfi for me, much as I like it - there is no way he would sanction it, I know him too well... and I do want to give my parents input as they have been great about the proposal to change it and I want them to be happy so it's a positive thing for us all.

Here is the shortlist I have sent them

Rhian Swyn Surname
Rhian Eira Surname
Rhian Buddug Surname
Rhian Llinos Surname

Let's see what the parent panel has to say!

Thank you again, honestly you have all warmed the cockles of my heart. ❤

Aww, thanks lovely - it is lovely, but we have two 'El' names in the family so might be a bit too approximate.

Myfi

I did my Masters in Cardiff and it is a great place - handy for the rugby (although maybe not at the moment!!) but I honestly feel so at home here, I love being that much closer to the sea... I go for a stroll on the beach daily if I can... sending you love from Abertawe... should get to you in about 40 minutes down the M4! X

I love it, my dad would hate it sadly. But I really do, I think it's so cute.

Celyn was traditionally a boys name but is now more a girls name, in the same vein as Hilary or Lesley.

If you search Celyn on Facebook they are all girls.

Eira is my fave from your short list and perfect for your Feb bday

Excited to see what my parents think! And boy was it snowing the day I was born (all those years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth) - so definitely fitting! I would honestly be happy with any of them.

Blodwen

Sadly dad went to school with a Blodwen... and they were not friends.

My mam's come back with: "I like Seren because you're my star!"

That's lovely mam, but I have two friends called Seren and it wasn't on the list!

Ironically I've just come to the bar to meet a friend and they are playing 'That's Not My Name' by the Ting Tings! Psychic jukebox?!

I used to think Angharad was one of the most awful names of ever heard.

Then it grew on me and I now love it.

I'm loving reading all these Welsh names, they are beautiful.

Sorry I don't have any to add myself, but looking forward to hearing what you choose.

Personally, I love Seren. But is it a bit "mainstream" compared to some of the more unusual Welsh names on here?

Meg

Love the shortlist OP! How is Sywn pronounced? (outing myself as English here!!)

Swyn is pronounced soin - like loin with an s. Which is a horrible way to describe it but I can't think of how else to do it!

Seren is definitely much more mainstream - I still love it though. I've also always liked Enfys (Welsh for rainbow).

Thanks and you’re not wrong, I know so many Serens! Gorgeous name, but going through this whole thing I want it to be a bit more distinct!

Cute but not Welsh?

As @MrsSchnickelfritz says, but I would say more soy-n. We have different pronunciations across the whole of Wales because of how the language has evolved in different areas.

Nothing wrong with being English! Thanks for your lovely post.

My best friend is Enfys and we can’t both be rainbows sadly!

Have to be honest.., I am edging towards two middle names! My mam has two!

So dad has responded - I have shared it verbatim so you can get the whole sense of this situation...

"For goodness sake. I do think you have gone mad. I thought you were going to stick with just Rhian. Why have a second name at all, and repeat our mistake?

But just to join in the madness. Bear in mind that when somebody does read your name on a document, or ask you for your full name face to face, they will probably be monoglot English and this is what I think:

Sewin is a fish.
Buddeg needs no comment at all.
Eira was the name of one of our sheep in Cardigan and means snow
I am pretty sure that Llinos or something similar was the name of a male character in a cartoon."

SO glad I asked them!! Mam came up with a name not on the list and this is my dad's response! FFS! I met him two days ago and told him that I wanted a new middle name!

Ahh men don’t get it op!! Also I don’t think anyone’s ever read out my full name to me so I don’t think it would matter if they were English reading Welsh names. If anything, maybe quite funny listening to them reading Buddug!

do you have any Welsh family names you’d like to use to honour family?