Emrys for a baby without Welsh background

[WinterPoppy]

I would like to call my son Emrys. We are a Spanish family living in London, and while I adore this name, we have no Welsh connections. I've seen online forums where mums discuss this name for their future babies and comments often include questions like "are you Welsh?" as if the name would only be suitable if they were. This makes me wonder whether using it for my son is inappropriate or could even be seen as cultural appropriation. So many names transcend cultures, but it may be different when the name is uncommon? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks all!

are you OK with using name in the middle? And having more expected first name instead? I would use Emrys if i liked it despite no Welsh association.

A name is just a name. Plenty of people use names from cultural origins different to their own. If you like the name, use it. Emrys is lovely!

I don't see why not. It's easy to pronounce for English and Spanish speakers alike.

(It actually has a Latin root - Ambrosius.)

Lovely name - was on our original list. I have Welsh grandparents so would be a tenuous link for me! I think it’s fine to use :)

I agree with other posters. I would use it if you like as it is easy to pronounce and so doesn't require a discussion most of the time. I think it's a beautiful name also. :)

It's Ambrosio in Spanish.

It’s not my favourite Welsh name to be honest but go for it if you love it!

There's nothing wrong with it but I think it will end up being shortened to Em.
There are many Welsh names I like more.

Oh I would use it, it’s a favourite of mine. I know plenty of Lola’s with no Spanish connection!

Not cultural appropriation - otherwise choice of names would be very limited and the majority of the population’s parents would be guilty of it 🤣

It’s just that until a name becomes commonplace it can sound unusual outside that culture/country. For example I wouldn’t assume a Dylan is Welsh or even had Welsh links as it’s quite popular in many English speaking countries.

But Emrys is rarely used outside Wales and unless people are familiar with the Arthurian Legend (or have seen Merlin on TV 🤣), he likely going to have to explain how to spell it, possibly even how to pronounce it, and maybe sometimes get asked if he’s got Welsh links.

If it’s your absolute fave name, then is any of that the end of the world? No, thousands of people deal with a similar thing with their own names. But if you are mulling between several names then it’s something to consider.

(Btw I love Emrys and actually live in Wales - but have no Welsh heritage and speak little Welsh so decided against it, but only as there were other better known names I like as much).

Nah, go for it. If I met someone called Emrys I'd ask if they were Welsh, but only out of interest because I'm Welsh - there'd be no judgment whatsoever if the answer was "no".

but have no Welsh heritage and speak little Welsh yet you can say no cultural appropriation.

Well I'm not Polish and can claim that calling your baby Nikodem or Franciszek is not cultural appropriation.

I don’t think you read my post properly, try again 🙄 Let me guess, you think a non Welsh speaking person calling their son Dylan or Tristan is cultural appropriation too? I know several English and American Dylan’s for example with not a scrap of Welsh heritage. Good luck out there in the real world 🤣

At least you now know if you name your son Emrys @WinterPoppy , you/he could end up meeting someone like @HugoYorway . Better make up some Welsh heritage quickly! 🤣

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , Tristan isn't Welsh. Dylan was made popular by Bob Dylan, so it doesn't really compare.

At least you are aware that this is the kind of bigoted thinking you might have to deal with if you name him Emrys @WinterPoppy because you aren’t Welsh (Im mixed race/mixed heritage -part Romanian actually which is why @HugoYorway comment about Eastern Europeans is so funny) But only if you go to certain insular parts of Wales.

I’ve lived in Wales for 20 years, my child was born here and will speak Welsh (I struggle with learning another language as I’m partially deaf, but thankfully unlike @HugoYorway most Welsh people are lovely and very accepting , I live near the border where everyone speaks English). But because we weren’t born in Wales to multiple generations of Welsh people we have no right to use their names according to people like that poster 🙄! I expect they think we should’nt be allowed to live here too.

But in the real world, thankfully, I only meet people like that poster very rarely- if you live in a larger town/city in the UK @WinterPoppy your Emrys will be absolutely fine (apart from possible spelling issues as I mentioned, but that’s not the end of the world for such a lovely name).

Go for it as long as you don't mind people asking about Welsh connections all the time, because they probably will. I'm Welsh living in Wales and don't know any young Emrys's, but like the name so why not

@IamnotwhouthinkIam At least you are aware that this is the kind of bigoted thinking you might have to deal with if you name him Emrys because you aren’t Welsh (Im mixed race/mixed heritage -part Romanian actually which is why comment about Eastern Europeans is so funny) But only if you go to certain insular parts of Wales.
Which part of my post was bigoted? I don't care what @WinterPoppy calls her child, and if she likes the name Emrys, I don't have any issue with it.
The objection I have is to you, as a non-Welsh, non-Welsh speaker, insisting it wasn't cultural appropriation when it isn't your culture.

I’ve lived in Wales for 20 years, my child was born here and will speak Welsh (I struggle with learning another language as I’m partially deaf, but thankfully unlike most Welsh people are lovely and very accepting , I live near the border where everyone speaks English). But because we weren’t born in Wales to multiple generations of Welsh people we have no right to use their names according to people like that poster 🙄! I expect they think we should’nt be allowed to live here too.
I don't live in Wales and have no intention of doing so, so that argument is not relevant.

But in the real world, thankfully, I only meet people like that poster very rarely- if you live in a larger town/city in the UK your Emrys will be absolutely fine (apart from possible spelling issues as I mentioned, but that’s not the end of the world for such a lovely name).
I live in a large town or city in the UK, and know people with all sorts of names. I do not speak for any other cultures other than my own.

You, @IamnotwhouthinkIam ,on the other hand, have decided that I am Welsh, and laid into me, which implies that you have prejudice against the Welsh.

And you have also decided what cultural appropriation is @HugoYorway 😡 As a mixed race/heritage person, I’ve had to deal with opinions like yours most of my life because I happen not to be 100% of one race/heritage. I don’t want to argue with people like you - I won’t be speaking to you again.

Btw what you suggested that was bigoted was that apparently I’m not allowed to speak about Welsh names because I’m not Welsh - even though I’ve lived there for much of my life. But as a mixed race/mixed heritage person that would imply I’m not allowed to offer my opinions about any names - because I’m not 100% of any race/heritage. And you can’t understand how that sounds bigoted🙄

Use whatever name you want. It’s a beautiful name.

Names from other cultures/ countries are used all the time, no biggie.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , I thought you weren't talking to me. You seem to not comprehend my posts. I have not made reference to your heritage other than it not being Welsh. You however have decided that I am Welsh and white.

Sorry if this details your thread OP, but at least you’ll see that @HugoYorway is the kind of person your son might meet if you use the name (but that the rest of the thread agrees with me that that using Emrys if your not Welsh is no big deal),

Fine, I’ll bite. So ARE you mixed race/heritage too?@HugoYorway - because I can’t believe that if you were you’d imply that mixed race people aren’t allowed to comment on any cultures (because they aren’t wholly any one) - as you told me I shouldn’t comment on cultural appropriation because I’m not Welsh, even though I live here. You just want us to shut up? And you claim that’s not bigoted 😡

Fine, I’ll bite. So ARE you mixed race/heritage too? - because I can’t believe that if you were you’d imply that mixed race people aren’t allowed to comment on any cultures (because they aren’t wholly any one) - as you told me I shouldn’t comment on cultural appropriation because I’m not Welsh, even though I live here. You just want us to shut up? And you claim that’s not bigoted 😡

I have not implied anything about what mixed race people are allowed to comment on.

I have not said that you should not comment on cultural appropriation because you are not Welsh.

I only pointed out that you had said that using a name from a certain culture/language was not cultural appropriation but you were not actually from that culture.

You making up accusations about me is what's weird.

You have probably put @WinterPoppy , completely off the name now.

By your logic my 2 year old who was born in Wales is allowed to comment on it but I’m not because I wasn’t lucky enough to be born here - even though I’ve lived here most of my life and feel Welsh, but because I have a disability that makes it hard to learn the language and my parents aren’t Welsh, I’m not allowed to speak. So by your logic which culture am I allowed to speak about? My Mum’s Romanian one, even though I’ve never even visited the country? You keep just doubling down on your prejudice @HugoYorway .