New Post
Search
Help[Facts] Welsh Names
Hi all,
My DH and I are collecting our list of names we like for baby #2... Seeing as I am of Welsh heritage I really wanted a nice strong welsh name for a little girl. I discovered a castle in Wales called Emlyn, and decided I liked that and it would make a pretty "girls" name. My Mum has decided that due to the fact that it's actually a BOYS name (which I had no idea of) that I shouldn't use it for a girl. I think it is a tad to girlish sounding to use for a boy (particularly in Australia)... SO I REALLY want to know if anyone has ever heard of this being used for a girl before? or is it strictly a boys name?
p.s. any nice welsh girls names would be gratefully recieved! :)
S
My DH and I are collecting our list of names we like for baby #2... Seeing as I am of Welsh heritage I really wanted a nice strong welsh name for a little girl. I discovered a castle in Wales called Emlyn, and decided I liked that and it would make a pretty "girls" name. My Mum has decided that due to the fact that it's actually a BOYS name (which I had no idea of) that I shouldn't use it for a girl. I think it is a tad to girlish sounding to use for a boy (particularly in Australia)... SO I REALLY want to know if anyone has ever heard of this being used for a girl before? or is it strictly a boys name?
p.s. any nice welsh girls names would be gratefully recieved! :)
S
1
Replies
Since unisex names are becoming more and more popular, there in't any reason why you shouldn't use it. As for what other people say, remember that while listening is nice and helpful, it is ultimately your choice and that is their problrm if they don't like that name.
Ilana
P.S. I don't know if this is a real Welsh name, but I read it in a book: Claerwen
Ilana
P.S. I don't know if this is a real Welsh name, but I read it in a book: Claerwen
1
ohhh hehe... that's ok... pretty name...
1
The post name is ILANA, not a Welsh name. The Welsh name which she proposes is Claerwen. It is a place name (a river in Powys) used as first name in Wales (an example is Claerwen James); it comes from the Brythonic roots claer, "bright", and gwen, "white, fair, holy". Since the place name ends in (g)wen, the name is used as feminine name.
Here you have a link to the only reliable online source in Welsh names that I know:
A-M
http://kimkat.org/amryw/1_enwau/enwau_bedydd_cymraeg_geiriadur_1_1265e.htm
N-Y
http://kimkat.org/amryw/1_enwau/enwau_bedydd_cymraeg_geiriadur_2_2524e.htm
Here you have a link to the only reliable online source in Welsh names that I know:
A-M
http://kimkat.org/amryw/1_enwau/enwau_bedydd_cymraeg_geiriadur_1_1265e.htm
N-Y
http://kimkat.org/amryw/1_enwau/enwau_bedydd_cymraeg_geiriadur_2_2524e.htm
1
I see your point, but I strongly desagree with you because several reasons.
Unisex names are becoming more and more popular in the United States and by extension in other English speaking areas, but not in the rest of the languages or places (and that is the case of the Welsh language and Wales).
The use of names from a foreign culture should respect the conventions of that culture, if not this can be seen, and probably will be, as an ignorant or/and disrespectful action and can carry not the sympathy of the native speakers or people from that culture but exactly the contrary. I discussed that several times with Catalan, Basque, Russian, Irish and Welsh people and there was a general assent about that (the transgessed conventions varied from culture to culture).
Obviously, while the person with the wrongly used name doesn't interact with people from the original culture, there is not any problem; it will be simply a strange/inusual/odd name. But when the interaction comes, it is very probable that the reactions will be negative: hardly with words to his/her face, but sure from behind as a joke among the native speakers and reinforcing any cliché about the intelligence/culture/cleverness/education... of the people from the culture to which the wrongly named person belongs. The more strong the stereotypes, the more easily the mistake will be mocked and used as proof of that stereotypes. That is true not only for the names, of course, but for any cultural piece.
And about "(...) while listening is nice and helpful, it is ultimately your choice and that is their problrm if they don't like that name.", that is true, but that is a two ways streets: you (general you) can do publicly whatever you want (always legal) and the rest of the world can thing and comment whatever they want.
Unisex names are becoming more and more popular in the United States and by extension in other English speaking areas, but not in the rest of the languages or places (and that is the case of the Welsh language and Wales).
The use of names from a foreign culture should respect the conventions of that culture, if not this can be seen, and probably will be, as an ignorant or/and disrespectful action and can carry not the sympathy of the native speakers or people from that culture but exactly the contrary. I discussed that several times with Catalan, Basque, Russian, Irish and Welsh people and there was a general assent about that (the transgessed conventions varied from culture to culture).
Obviously, while the person with the wrongly used name doesn't interact with people from the original culture, there is not any problem; it will be simply a strange/inusual/odd name. But when the interaction comes, it is very probable that the reactions will be negative: hardly with words to his/her face, but sure from behind as a joke among the native speakers and reinforcing any cliché about the intelligence/culture/cleverness/education... of the people from the culture to which the wrongly named person belongs. The more strong the stereotypes, the more easily the mistake will be mocked and used as proof of that stereotypes. That is true not only for the names, of course, but for any cultural piece.
And about "(...) while listening is nice and helpful, it is ultimately your choice and that is their problrm if they don't like that name.", that is true, but that is a two ways streets: you (general you) can do publicly whatever you want (always legal) and the rest of the world can thing and comment whatever they want.
1
Agree.
Well put.
Well put.
1
I actually agree with Lumia too. I am more than comfortable to find an english name and use that as a unisex name. BUT with Emlyn it was a different case. The name is strictly Welsh and seeing as we travel there every 5 or so years I thought, what happens if my daughter Emlyn turns 20 and decides she wants to live in wales for a few years (like I did when I was in my 20's)... what would the locals opinions of her name be and would she have to discover a way to handle retorts that she wouldn't have discovered back here in Australia?!
While in general I agree that the naming of a child is the parents right and I actually was offended when my mum said "thats an awful choice for a girl"... I think there are some exceptions where you need to consider cultural and social context.
While in general I agree that the naming of a child is the parents right and I actually was offended when my mum said "thats an awful choice for a girl"... I think there are some exceptions where you need to consider cultural and social context.
1
Emlyn is very masculine to me. I wouldn't use it on a girl.
I'm of Welsh heritage too, so I love Welsh names. I think the Opinions Board would be better suited for your question, so you ought to try there. You'll get a lot more responses. But I'll tell you my favorites anyway. :)
Eira and Olwen are my absolute favorites, but I also like:
Bethan
Blodwen
Enid
Mared
Megan
Mererid
Myfanwy
Winifred
And also, congratulations on baby #2, and you ought to stick around at least while you're picking a name. We're good help with that stuff. :)
I'm of Welsh heritage too, so I love Welsh names. I think the Opinions Board would be better suited for your question, so you ought to try there. You'll get a lot more responses. But I'll tell you my favorites anyway. :)
Eira and Olwen are my absolute favorites, but I also like:
Bethan
Blodwen
Enid
Mared
Megan
Mererid
Myfanwy
Winifred
And also, congratulations on baby #2, and you ought to stick around at least while you're picking a name. We're good help with that stuff. :)
This message was edited 3/23/2009, 4:56 AM
1
Thanks for that! I was really just coming on to find out the history of Emlyn, so that's why I came to this forum... but I am LOVING all the suggestions anyway :) Saves me searching through list after list after list...
I will be sticking around anyway... I am loving this site and I do a lot with our family history so it would be a good site to research some names that have come up :)
On your favourite names... How you do pronounce Eira? Is it with an "I" sound out the start or an "ee"...It means snow doesn't it? I was going through the E's yesterday and found Eirian and Eirlys and Eirwen... all of which looked lovely too but I don't really know about the Ei sound... Although I am kinda sold on Bethan or Betsan...
I will be sticking around anyway... I am loving this site and I do a lot with our family history so it would be a good site to research some names that have come up :)
On your favourite names... How you do pronounce Eira? Is it with an "I" sound out the start or an "ee"...It means snow doesn't it? I was going through the E's yesterday and found Eirian and Eirlys and Eirwen... all of which looked lovely too but I don't really know about the Ei sound... Although I am kinda sold on Bethan or Betsan...
1
Emlyn is strictly masculine, and any Welsh person would associate it with large sweaty rugby players ...
What about Bethan? Megan is so overused, and it's the same principle: diminutive of Elizabeth instead of Margaret. Or Betsan, to avoid confusion if Bethany is used where you live. Or try the Welsh list at Namenerds.com.
What about Bethan? Megan is so overused, and it's the same principle: diminutive of Elizabeth instead of Margaret. Or Betsan, to avoid confusion if Bethany is used where you live. Or try the Welsh list at Namenerds.com.
1
Okay, so it really isn't such a "pretty" name then :)
We were a tad concerned because we do travel to Wales every now and then so glad I cleared that up.
Bethan was actually on the list I just found on here. I quite like it actually. Megan is VERY used here and I have a number of people I know with that name. Betsan is also nice.
I just like names that have a strong history or connection so Bethan is lovely.
We were a tad concerned because we do travel to Wales every now and then so glad I cleared that up.
Bethan was actually on the list I just found on here. I quite like it actually. Megan is VERY used here and I have a number of people I know with that name. Betsan is also nice.
I just like names that have a strong history or connection so Bethan is lovely.
1