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HelpCeridwen?
Hi, everyone. I was hoping to get some opinions on the name Ceridwen. I'm from the U.S., and I have a feeling it would be too bulky for a child here, but I've been in love with it since I was in middle school. I appreciate that Ceridwen has both the "witchy" (destruction and rebirth) and "goddessy" (knowledge and inspiration) associations. I'm a writer, so I find that she was said to possess a "cauldron of poetic inspiration" really nifty.
Those who are familiar with Welsh, am I correct in pronouncing it keh-RID-wen? Does anyone have nn suggestions that don't sound like Kerry/Carrie?
Those who are familiar with Welsh, am I correct in pronouncing it keh-RID-wen? Does anyone have nn suggestions that don't sound like Kerry/Carrie?
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I've always found it intriguing, but yes, I think it would be a tough one in the US. When I first encountered it, I naturally pronounced it "sir-id-wen," and I think most people here would do that as well. You would be constantly correcting people. I do believe the correct pronunciation is "ker-RID-wen," as you've stated in your post, but I'm not Welsh. Anyway, I find that most Welsh names are not ones that come naturally to us in the US, even though many are lovely.
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I've actually never known how to pronounce this name until reading this thread. I've always in my said "SEH-rid-wen", which I now know is way incorrect. :)
Do you hate Ceri pronounced Kerry? I think it's really cute.
Winnie could work maybe?
ETA: Also, I disagree that it's unusable in the U.S. I certainly wouldn't be shocked to see one in a birth announcement. It goes along with the current trend, at least in my area, of classic Irish/Welsh/English names.
Do you hate Ceri pronounced Kerry? I think it's really cute.
Winnie could work maybe?
ETA: Also, I disagree that it's unusable in the U.S. I certainly wouldn't be shocked to see one in a birth announcement. It goes along with the current trend, at least in my area, of classic Irish/Welsh/English names.
This message was edited 5/26/2015, 2:06 PM
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I have seen that name here on BtN and always thought it looked so clunky. I wouldn't have known how to pronounce it. It's not necessarily unusable, but I do think it's a bit bulky and weighty and probably a bit of a nuisance. But if you love it, you would have to decide if it is worth teaching/explaining forever. Maybe it is.
Nicknames:
Cerid
Riddy
Ridwen
Winnie
Cero
Cerwen
Rinny
Cenny
Cenry
Nicknames:
Cerid
Riddy
Ridwen
Winnie
Cero
Cerwen
Rinny
Cenny
Cenry
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I'm Welsh, and yes, that's how I'd pronounce it. For a nickname I'd probably go Gwen, maybe Ceri. I love the name, personally- where I live it would be very usual, in fact I know two, but in the US, maybe not!
This message was edited 5/26/2015, 1:44 AM
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keh-RID-wen is how I say it.
I like it. Agree about the associations being pleasing.
I'm vaguely acquainted with a person who uses this name and it's definitely nifty IMO.
Cedwen, contracted. KED-wen. You think?
I like it. Agree about the associations being pleasing.
I'm vaguely acquainted with a person who uses this name and it's definitely nifty IMO.
Cedwen, contracted. KED-wen. You think?
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I like many Welsh female names and Ceridwen is nice.
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I love Ceridwen (though I do prefer Cerridwen, personal preference). I also enjoy the witchy, goddess, writerly stuff about it.
Dwen, Wen or Wennie could be a cute nickname maybe. Although, I pronounce it more like "KEH-rid-win", so Win, Dwyn, Wyn or Wynnie would make more phonetic sense to me. But it's spelled -wen, so... Cerridwyn would be neato too though. If you're ok with tweaking spellings.
Dwen, Wen or Wennie could be a cute nickname maybe. Although, I pronounce it more like "KEH-rid-win", so Win, Dwyn, Wyn or Wynnie would make more phonetic sense to me. But it's spelled -wen, so... Cerridwyn would be neato too though. If you're ok with tweaking spellings.
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Yup, keh RID wen is how I'd say it and I'm from Wales. I don't know any Ceridwens - it's quite old-fashioned and more likely to be seen in obituaries than on young people here - but it's a good name with solid history and I wouldn't mind seeing it used on a child. Obviously the pronunciation would be an issue in the US, though.
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Ha, I have seen the name in books now and then, and have been pronouncing it wrong, in my mind.
I've been saying SAIR-id-wen.
It's a nice name, but I think wouldn't fly in North America.
I've been saying SAIR-id-wen.
It's a nice name, but I think wouldn't fly in North America.
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I met a Ceridwen in the US once, it suited her very well. She pronounced it KAIR-id-wen. I like the name and I think it's usable in the US, but prefer it with the emphasis on the first syllable, and I'm not sure if that's the original pronunciation.
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