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!

Hi all

This thread is heading way off track - and that's not fair on the OP. Any further posts below this, will be removed and temporary suspensions considered.

Please draw a line now, so that the thread can continue back on its original course.

Thanks.

Not a problem, but as a Welsh person, a name THAT Welsh would have me speaking Welsh to them in the first instance. Maybe I am just from a different part of the country that would do it, but here, very Welsh names are usually synonymous with Welsh first language people!

Awww, that’s nice. Lovely name. Welsh people don’t care about ‘cultural appropriation’ btw 😅. Our culture is for anyone to enjoy.

Hi everyone, this is the first time I'm posting here and I didn't expect so many replies! Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such thoughtful feedback, this has been incredible helpful. I will probably go for it as the comments convinced me that the worst thing that can happen is being asked if we are Welsh, which is far from being the end of the world! Thank so much again! ❤

Which prompted memories of ambrosia custard in my mind!!!

Go for it if you like the name.

I know a couple who gave their LO a Welsh name even though they have no connection to Wales.

there are many children where I live (in Wales) which I describe as traditionally non British ie Luca, Amira, Gio, Roux, Jean-luc etc, no one bats an eyelid, so you don’t need to worry about that. Emrys is a lovely name, alternatives can be Emlyn or Emery.

anyway I’m led to believe as I’m not a Welsh speaker myself that the Welsh and Spanish language is quite similar in many respects.

This. I would assume Emrys has a welsh-speaking background. Also Emrys can be hard to pronounce with some Spanish accents.

That said you should 100% use the name that you love.

It's definitely a very Welsh sounding name, so your son will be regularly asked if he's Welsh, which might get a bit annoying for him. Can't see any problems other than that - but personally I wouldn't want to be constantly asked if I am from somewhere that I'm not.

Agreed, Welsh speakers tend to assume I'm Welsh speaking based on my name (my Mam's a Welsh speaker and named me after her grandmother).

I'd say Emrys is a name in that category of Welsh names.

I only recently heard this name but I LOVE it so much!

My son is called Emrys, so I would say it is an excellent choice of name!
We are welsh but not welsh speaking. Some people have assumed that we do speak welsh, given the name, but if you live outside wales (and encounter fewer actual welsh speakers) you might not get this as much. If you love it, go for it.