[Facts] Wyre
A BBC correspondent, currently reporting from Gaza: Wyre Davies. Described as Welsh. The continuity announcer pronounces his first name as WIra, like a rhyme with 'tirra lirra', as sung by Sir Lancelot in 'The Lady of Shalott'; I was surprised to see it on-screen.
Any information will be fascinating!
Any information will be fascinating!
Replies
Ooh, that's a new one on me. I checked and it's extremely rare - maybe 5 bearers ever. Google says there's an Afon Wyre, so I expect he's probably named after it; it's not uncommon to find people here named after rivers and lakes, although the names themselves are usually rare.
I'd pronounce it more like wə reh, but I expect the continuity announcer was English :) And regional accents vary a lot.
Interestingly, it's also a surname, but probably as a variant of Weir or Wyer, as none of the bearers seem to have been Welsh.
I'd pronounce it more like wə reh, but I expect the continuity announcer was English :) And regional accents vary a lot.
Interestingly, it's also a surname, but probably as a variant of Weir or Wyer, as none of the bearers seem to have been Welsh.
This message was edited 8/8/2014, 1:58 PM
Aha! I was wondering if there was a connection to the Wirral, but an actual river seems more likely. Thank you.
Wyre Davies was born in Llanrhystud, a Welsh seaside village through which runs the River Wyre (Afon Wyre in Welsh) so I suspect that's what he was named after.