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!

Honestly, what a dafty, we HAD the conversation! Two nights ago!

Ironically my dad hates familial names as his middle is for his dad who he intensely disliked. I have trod so carefully with all of this!

But this is what I think will work:

Rhian Swyn Seren surname... so two middle names and initials RSSB which I don't think could offend anyone at anytime or stand for anything?!

I think that’s lovely. I’ve lived in wales all my life and never actually heard the name Swyn it’s lovely. I changed my middle names from 2 to 1 because I hated having 2- are you definitely sure you want 2?

@Whatisityoucantface It's Ceridwen. It's a very old name but tends to sound like Crid-wen where I'm from.
Swyn (watch the spellng) is like Su-in, but one syllable (nearer soyn than swin). The Dwyn in Dwynwen has the same vowel sound, but in Dwynwen, it tends to rhyme with wyn or quin.

@Arlanymor, Rhian is 4 letters not 5. . Rhian and Gwenllian rhyme, Ffion doesn't , but the Rhi-, -lli-, and Ffi- do. Rhian Tanwen is too many 'an' sounds.

The cartoon character was Llion, and it's a boy's name. Llinos is a bird, the linnet.

Rhian Eleri goes nicely. (I know more than one). Teleri or Meleri might be alternatives.
I don't get the love for the name Angharad - I think I know too many who have it as a first or middle name. Same goes for Eleri, and the MN Eh-lairy pronunciation hurts my ears. Probably not as bad as the Anarrud/Ann-garrud/Ann-harrud awfulness though.

Rhian Mair is lovely. I love the name Mair but would not use it for a DD because of the likelihood of it being said as Mare/My-uh.

If your mother or father has a Welsh name, you could use that as a middle name.

I think the thread has shown some of the pronunciation and spelling issues.

Rhian Swyn Seren = Star Magic Girl (reoredered to reflect how it reads). It's a bit 'too much' for my liking.

Yes I know about the digraph, but I choose not to embarrass people.

I can't be Eleri - cousins and work colleagues name!

I speak fluent Welsh but you recognise that there is no one way to speak Welsh - I'm south Walian and our vowel sounds are influenced by the bridge. I learned it as a second language in Abertawe.

Consider that I was always Rhian - but Star Magic Maiden (not girl) is wonderful! Might be too much for you, but not for me!

Wasn't trying to embarrass anyone, and agree that depending on where you are, the vowels can sound different.
A maiden is usually a girl, so not sure why you are picking up on that.

The spelling bit is because the names do get misspelt. Not an issue if you don't mind, apart from things like legal documents being in the wrong name etc.

I learnt English in rural Welsh-speaking Wales. If anyone comments on my written English, I generally take the view that if they commented, they had a reason for doing so.

Neither am I. I have spent 45 years explaining 'Rh'.

I don't think I have spelled anything incorrect]y?

Well I picked up it because it's my name!

I have to say this is the most tedious part of Welsh name threads. There are always one or two pedants who come on and laboriously and patronisingly 'correct' everyone. I'm not advocating for incorrect pronunciation of our beautiful Welsh names but, bloody hell, can some people not acknowledge the huge variations in pronunciation across Wales and the fact that's it's really bloody hard to explain them in text anyway unless you're a linguist.

Eto.

This was supposed to be an open thread on a fairly bland topic (and believe you me I have strong politcal views).

I love everything you have said.

seeing as you like Gwen, and Eira - how about, Gweneira ?
(Unless all Gwen variations are out of course!)

I hate to sound like a teenager but it ruins the vibe.
We're all having a nice chat about various Welsh names.and then up they pop

Iawn.

Has anyone said Tesni ?
Also love the eria names too

Is he thinking of Linus the blanket boy from the Snoopy cartoons? Although not spelt or pronounced the same way.
Your Dad sounds a hoot😆 and tbf that is the problem with names and association, I worked with children for a while, I have a long list of names that will not darken my door!

Some lovely names on here. Can I add to the Eira theme: Eirwen.

Yes, silly me for daring to comment.

Some of these are misspellings, not sure about the others being names:
Cerridwen, Caridwen - Ceridwen
Taliesen - Taliesin
Bronwyn (not a misspelling as it is used but it's an abomination) - Bronwen
Llusen – is it a name? Literally 'bilberry'
Eilwen – misspelling of Aelwen? Reads as 2nd (as in second place, second best)+white/blessed
Caio -place name and Sth American boy’s name (Caio = Cai in Welsh)
Blydd - ? doesn't even look like a word
Margedd - Marged
Brownwen - Bronwen
Eifron (his breast?) - Eifion?
Sywn - Swyn
Sewin - Siwan
Buddeg - Buddug

Silly you indeed. Nobody wants to read what is essentially you going through the thread with a red pen. It's boring.
The fact that you've included Swyn in your list of errors is ridiculous - it was only spelt incorrectly once by someone who hadn't heard of it.

It wouldn't be ridiculous if it was your name being misspelt, @MrsSchnickelfritz

If OP hadn't said she'd not misspelt any, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Some of the ones on the thread are probably typos, but chances are you'd see them in real life.

My spologies, I missed eria.

I'll leave you to your nice chat.

Can’t see if it’s been suggested anywhere, but since it’s “only” a middle name and you were considering two anyway - how about 2 in 1 with Gwyneira? (or Gweneira, though the one I met spelt it with a Y like Gwyneth). Really pretty imo, quite rare (think similar Eirwen is a bit better known) and obviously means Snow White 🤣 I might be an outlier here but I think it’s beautiful- I’d love to meet more Gwyneira’s (I have a DS so couldn’t use it myself).

I didn’t think I had… but typing quickly it does happen. Also you misspelt ‘apologies’! Strangely I would check before changing anything legally!

Lord my parents can be nuts at the best of times! Goodness knows where he got that from!

But I’m driving them to a family dinner next weekend - so six hours in the car should be enough time to battle it out between us… if he plays up I will abandon him at Saran Park services! 😂