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WDYT of Llyr
Surprisingly, my husband really liked Llyr/Lir (pronounced LEER), and we prefer the spelling Llyr.1. Someone said that LEER is not the the technically correct pronunciation of Llyr. Can someone give me the more correct pronunciation? Is it more like hcLEER? Is this only pronounced this way in Wales, or would the British also use the Welsh pronunciation? In the US, I think most people would read and prounounce it as LEER.2. Since Piers is our #1 name right now, do you think that Piers (PEERZ) and Llyr would work as a sibset, or are they too alike since they both have the EER sound?3. I like Llyr because I like the sound (or what I think the sound is), that it is uncommon, and that it means "the sea". I don't really like that it's a mythological name as I don't want to name my child after a religion or deity that I don't believe. I'm not familiar with Welsh mythology, but it appears Llyr first meant "the sea" so the god of the sea was then named Llyr. Do you think of Llyr as a mythological name? Any other interesting name suggestions?Thanks!
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1. The LL sound in Welsh doesn't exist in English. It's kind of like if you put your tongue like you would to make an L sound, but then just blow air. I guess hcl or hl is the best way to spell that in English. :) As being American and speaking English, I just pronounce LL like L. I'd say anyone in the US would also.2. I don't think that Piers and Llyr are too alike. Since Piers has the S at the end so they don't rhyme, I think it's okay.3. I kind of think of Llyr as a mythological name because the first time I heard it was in The Chronicles of Prydain, which was one of my favorite book series as a kid. But not to the extent that I would with many other Welsh names that are, say, associated with the Arthurian legend.

This message was edited 5/30/2008, 4:02 PM

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I would deffo pronouce Llyr as hcLEER.
Piers & Llyr make a great sibset.-Kitty
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1. It's difficult to say, I've never met one. Talking about places in Wales like Llandudno, I would say 'hlan' rather than 'lan'.2. I think they're a little too similar. They sort of rhyme.3. Mythology isn't really the same as religion. You wouldn't use an Arthurian name because you don't believe it to be true? Personally, I think mythology adds great depth and value to a name, and you don't have to believe it to be true in order to use it and appreciate it.If you are stuck with the pronunciation, the Irish variant is Lir. Leir and Shakespeare's Lear may have been derived from Llyr or Lir.
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