Help with Welsh baby names

[Issy42]

I'm Welsh and would like to give my baby a Welsh name, but don't want to choose something that sounds too old or too odd for a child living in England. Always thought I would use Rhian/Rhiannon/Rhianedd for a girl but since the Rihanna umbrella song, I think it's a bit of a teenage mum name now. I'm not religious so trying to avoid names with meanings relating to God. Also can't begin with T, C or M.

Currently have:

Girls
Arwen (means fair/fine)- love the 'rw' sound but too Lord of the Rings?
Anwen (fair and beautiful)
Branwen (beautiful raven)
Eira (snow) - good for a winter baby, but too old?
Aneira (snow)

Boys
Vaughan (little)
Rhys (enthusiasm)
Gethin (dark-skinned - I'm very pale)

Also like Leon for a boy, though not Welsh. Would it be better for a boy to use a more popular first name with a Welsh middle name?

Any thoughts/other suggestions?

I love the name Ieuan - but we have two girls. Seren was on our short list but we opted for something else in the end.

Thanks TAFKA - getting sidetracked by Question Time so cross posting again.

Sorry Flame - my post seems really insensitive now. I do love the way Bronwen sounds though and I'm sure not many people will make the breast connection.

Thanks Jas.

No-one has commented on Vaughan - any thoughts? Mixed reactions from friends - they either love it or think it's for 90-year olds.

I am still on the hunt for a welsh name that can be shortened to Gus, otherwise this poor child will grow up very confused about why his brother insists on calling him Gus

Never been bullied in my life about it. Cos I was lanky and thats more obvious maybe but they always find something. Its because it means weasel which of course has a white breast.

Lol not offended - we did think about it when we chose it

Vaughan - not desperately moved by it either way tbh.

Flame- Gusg?

What would Branwen be shortened to do you think?

Sorry not keen on Vaughan. there was a Vaughan at school who was a bit dull & everyone called him Vaughan Yawn..

Why no m's or c's?

I love Carys and i have got a Megan.

Girls
Nia
Caddy
Nest
Buddug

Boys
Emlyn
Emyr
Barrard

My DSs have Welsh middle names. DS1 is Iestyn and DS2 is Taliesin. We live in England and the middle names cause much hilarity with telephone form filling.

For girls I am a big fan of Angharad.

Not keen on Vaughan to be honest, but that's because I know a particularly vile chap called Vaughan.

Seren for a boy ?! gotta be kidding lol

I love Osian,Geraint & Gethin for a boy
and Bronwen for a girl

Migola - one of my friends thinks Branwen would be called branflake.

Skybright - because I have a family member I particularly dislike whose name begins with C and would have same surname - sends a shiver down my spine. And my surname begins with M and don't like the illiteration, but both Carys and Megan were on my list before I made that realisation.

Bronze - glad you didn't get bullied - maybe I can add it back.

Flame - the wen can also mean beautiful and beautiful breasted is no bad prophecy .

Dysgu - Thanks for responding. Ieuan is lovely but has god meaning.

I find out the gender at my next scan in two weeks, so can eliminate half the names then, but wanted a shortlist of both in case they get it wrong as I think it will be harder to think of the other gender when you don't think you're going to use the name IYSWIM.

Hi Ninjacat - did you enjoy Glasto? Think I saw you serving but you had a big queue and had just nearly fainted so was heading back to camp for a sit down in the shade.

Branwen would prob be NN Branny/ie ! (the Bronwen I know is NN Bronny/ie)

Just remember I slso love Caitlin NN Cait

branflake, for god's sake!

Iolo?

WE have a Bethan - I love it. We live in Scotland and have never come across another one. We aren't even Welsh, just loved the name

Migola - in fairness he is a Richard so was overly looking for the bullying nickname angle of my shortlist.

Rachie - Caitlin is pretty.

Best get to bed now - was supposed to be having an early night.

Hiya Issy42

I mentioned that Rhys sounds most 'normal' to me because you said you don't want to choose something that sounds "too odd for a child living in England".

Personally, I really like the more unusual names. I feel quite strongly that when English people say "you shouldn't use that name no one will know how to spell it / it's hard to pronounce" what they're actually saying by implication (and usually without realising it) is that only English / Anglicised names are acceptable. And if we go down that route, then this really is the death of Welsh / Irish / Scottish / culture in action. In other words if we don't use these names for fear the English won't be able to say them, they'll die out, and the English will never get a chance to learn how to say them!
Names like Siobhan, Sian, Sinead and Niamh are becoming more well known by the English, why not Osian, Taliesin and Eira next?

I've got a boring sounding but unusual surname and have to spell it EVERY time. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, I think these things only bother you if you let them / like having something to moan about! Also I have lots of friends with unusual names (a mixture of different nationalities, and hippy parents). They ALL say they like their names.

Having said that, that's my personal rant! Choosing a name DELIBERATELY which is hard to spell for the English would perhaps be a little perverse!

I like all of your name choices, some of them were on my list, and my DS' gorgeous name is mentioned on this thread.

To answer your question 'normal' isn't good or bad, it's a question of personal taste. For me, Rhys wasn't on my list despite it being a name I like - and one we have family connections to - as we wanted something more unusual. But if you want something which is easy on the English ear, Rhys could be the one for you as it's relatively well known.

Gethin is awesome for a boy. I love Guinevere - Gwyn for short for a girl

or Eilys - pr Eye-Liss....very pretty looking and sounding.

My friend married a Welsh man and her grown up daughter is called Nesta. Never heard of the name before I met her. She wanted to call her Nest, but decided to add the -a as she thought she may be teased for Nest.

Issy - the shape she already has at 6, I think beautiful breasted is likely!

Bronze - EPPM suggested Gys and saying it is pronounced Gus

love anwen and seren only other welsh name i know is tegwen

I love Welsh names and really want one for this bubbs.

Girls, i like Mali, Llyr, Sian, Anwen and Ffion.

Boys, i love Aneurin with Nai for short, Ianto, Iestyn, Daffydd, and Iolo.

We have an Owain and a Heulwen (pr Hi -el- wen) and next due in Novemeber. Looking to the Irish as my family are irish but will probably add a welsh middle name
Girl - Aoife Seren
Boy - Cian Thomas
Love all the celtic names as they sound so pretty - sod the people who can't spell!!

Arianwen- i love this name, love your choices of Arwen, Aneira and Anwen too good luck

Olwen