Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Taliesin - can I use it?

122 replies

Sonyo · 19/10/2025 07:10

Always loved this name. I didn't go through with it for my first because of my family's opinions on it, but I'm due next spring with my third and last baby and would really love to use it if it's a boy.

The only issue is, I'm not Welsh, but I do have Welsh heritage, and my surname also starts with T (two syllables, ends in ie sound and has an S in there).

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ClaredeBear · 19/10/2025 20:27

MoreRabbit · 19/10/2025 20:07

We are in England and used a Welsh name (some distant Welsh ancestors but tbh we just really liked the name...and Wales!) - it's a pretty easy one to pronounce and we've only had positive reactions to it.

I do remember some Welsh MNers being very cross at the time though, when I asked for thoughts.

What?! That’s a complete and utter shame - how else to share a language and culture? I’m glad you stuck to your guns - da lawn ti!

MoreRabbit · 19/10/2025 20:31

Diolch, @ClaredeBear ❤️

@Arlanymor - no, they don't seem to be 👍 I'm just sharing my experience

DanDin · 19/10/2025 20:32

It's not sharing a language and culture, it's using a name they like.

It's 'da iawn ti'. @ClaredeBear

Clingfilm · 19/10/2025 20:35

Lovely strong name.
On child of our time it used to bug me how Dr Robert Winston called the kid Tally-sin. Wrong!

KimHwn · 19/10/2025 20:43

I know a good few Taliesins. It's a good, strong name pronounced Tal-YES-in. There is a Tre Taliesin by Aberystwyth that your future child might like to visit for photo ops with the sign!

WhereDidSummerGoAgain · 19/10/2025 21:09

If English people have (mostly) managed to get their heads round Siobhan, Niamh and Seren, they can handle Taliesin.

My DC both have names from our heritage that they have to spell for people. Both (now teenagers) say they love their names.

Your DC will get more benefit from having a great name with a fantastic history to it than they will from you picking something that means less to you just to conform.

Arlanymor · 19/10/2025 21:31

MoreRabbit · 19/10/2025 20:31

Diolch, @ClaredeBear ❤️

@Arlanymor - no, they don't seem to be 👍 I'm just sharing my experience

I'm just glad that hopefully the sands have shifted!

And llawer o gariad i chi a'ch teulu! xxx

sakura06 · 19/10/2025 21:32

It’s a great name. May be too much alliteration with a T surname though. And once again for the doubters: Tal-YES-in.

I wanted to name my baby ‘Llew’ if it was a boy. Now that was a fun one for the non-Welsh speakers…

Arlanymor · 19/10/2025 21:32

WhereDidSummerGoAgain · 19/10/2025 21:09

If English people have (mostly) managed to get their heads round Siobhan, Niamh and Seren, they can handle Taliesin.

My DC both have names from our heritage that they have to spell for people. Both (now teenagers) say they love their names.

Your DC will get more benefit from having a great name with a fantastic history to it than they will from you picking something that means less to you just to conform.

Edited

Oh don't get us started on Seren though! I have never heard it pronounced properly in England!

Arlanymor · 19/10/2025 21:35

sakura06 · 19/10/2025 21:32

It’s a great name. May be too much alliteration with a T surname though. And once again for the doubters: Tal-YES-in.

I wanted to name my baby ‘Llew’ if it was a boy. Now that was a fun one for the non-Welsh speakers…

Llew is lovely! It's always been one of my favourites.

But as you say Tal-YES-in. Totally great name.

My middle name is Swyn... it's a proper jamboree of pronunciations for people!!

soundsys · 19/10/2025 21:45

DrMadelineMaxwell · 19/10/2025 12:23

I like it. A bit unusual (I'm in Wales and have never taught or met a Taliesin) but I'd go for it. It's pronounced Tal - ee - es - in.

Are you Welsh? I always thought it was more like Tal-YES-in, i.e. 3 syllables rather than 4? (

Arlanymor · 19/10/2025 21:55

soundsys · 19/10/2025 21:45

Are you Welsh? I always thought it was more like Tal-YES-in, i.e. 3 syllables rather than 4? (

Show quote history

You're correct, that is absolutely how it is pronounced.

TheHairInClaudiasEyes · 19/10/2025 22:04

There was a boy named Taliesin on Child of our Time. He was bullied and at the time I used to say his name didn’t help.

StayClass · 19/10/2025 22:12

DaisyChain505 · 19/10/2025 08:06

If you’re not from Wales you’re going to set her up for a life time of people calling her all sorts of random things and her having to explain how it’s pronounced and spelled.

I stopped thinking like this when I named one of mine a very normal traditional English name, I think it was even in the top 10 at one time. You wouldn't believe the amount of spellings and pronunciations we've had over the years. At least with an unusual name people are maybe more likely to ask, rather than assuming they know.
Taliesin is a lovely name.

LemonJellyLegs · 19/10/2025 22:39

Is it a disease from the 30s?

sakura06 · 19/10/2025 22:56

@ArlanymorLlew is lovely, but my in-laws were from a Scandinavian country and they couldn’t pronounce it at all. They struggled with my brother’s name too (Geraint). Luckily I didn’t have a boy!

RubyMentor · 19/10/2025 22:59

Go for it, it’s a great name (I’m Welsh BTW)

BeastAngelMadwoman · 19/10/2025 23:20

I love it (another Welsh speaker here)

BeastAngelMadwoman · 19/10/2025 23:21

LemonJellyLegs · 19/10/2025 22:39

Is it a disease from the 30s?

I'm not sure why people think Welsh language names are fair game to mock on mumsnet. It's not funny, and you wouldn't do it with other languages.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 19/10/2025 23:45

Yes I am. V n wales near the border.

I would say the four parts I spelled out quickly and run them together so they would sound like 'yes' so they would sound like tal yes in. I just didn't type it like that.
I think the anglicised version is like my spelling but more drawn out so you hear the 'ee' then the 'yes' separately.

AnyOtherBrightIdeas · 19/10/2025 23:50

I love this name. It’s pretty easy to pronounce for English speakers.

Any name that isn’t Jake/Alfie/ Scarlett/ Isla will always attract the (“whatt?? —incapable of googling—) lot but it does not mean you shouldn’t use it. It just means they’re a bit rigid and unimaginative ;)

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 20/10/2025 00:01

Bugbabe1970 · 19/10/2025 12:28

Do you know the meaning of the word?
you can call your baby whatever you want - I’m Welsh by the way - I’ve never come across this as a child’s name - maybe that’s the appeal?
.

Really? Gosh. I know at least 4 and I’m not in a particularly “Welsh” part of Wales.

Cupofteawithsugar · 20/10/2025 00:29

It’s a nice name but I do live in Wales and know a lot of people with Welsh names, including this one. Usually shorted to Tali where I’m from. Not sure if would go with your surname.

Any other Welsh names you like?