Hirael / Hiral / Hirel
unisex; pr. hi:rail / hi:ra:l / hi:rɛl; meaning: long brow, from hir (long) + ael (brow)
detailed pronunciation
h = as in have
i = e, as in be
r = as in right
ae (ai) = as in [name_u]Yael[/name_u] / a = as in bat / e (ɛ) = as in well
l = as in like
The earliest recorded usage of Hirael as a given name is in 1919, in the [name_u]Silver[/name_u] War Badge [name_m]Roll[/name_m] 1914-1920, and the last recorded usage is in the [name_u]London[/name_u] Gazette 1921. These do not appear to be the same person.
The earliest recorded use of Hiral as a given name in [name_u]England[/name_u] & [name_m]Wales[/name_m] is 1811, and the most recent recorded use is 2006. However, as Hiral is also a name of [name_f]Indian[/name_f] origin, usage figures are not reliable as evidence for the Welsh given name. Although the Births, Marriages & Deaths Indexes have many Hiral’s with common Welsh surnames (Bowen, [name_m]Edwards[/name_m], [name_m]Evans[/name_m], [name_m]Richards[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_m]Owens[/name_m], Williams), it cannot be conclusively stated that their given name is from Welsh origin.
The earliest recorded use of Hirel as a name is 1827, but the earliest recorded use as a given name is 1845. The most recent recorded use is 1999. However, as with Hiral, Hirel has seen usage amongst people with Indian/South [name_f]Asian[/name_f] heritage, so its popularity as a Welsh given name is unclear.
Notable People
Hirelglas (technically not the same name but does contain ‘hirael’ as a component)
According to Brut y Brenhinedd (Chronicles of the Kings), Hirelglas was a nephew of Caswallawn, the chief commander of [name_f]British[/name_f] resistance against [name_m]Julius[/name_m] [name_m]Caesar[/name_m]. Following a second victory over [name_m]Caesar[/name_m], Caswallawn organised sacrifices at Trinovantum (London), as well as games. These games included a wrestling match between Hirelglas and Afarwy, nephew of Cuhelyn. During a dispute about the victory, Cuhelyn beheaded Hirelglas with his sword. Caswallawn demanded that Afarwy face trial but Afarwy refused and Caswallawn threatened war.
Hirelglas’ name likely meant “long silver brow”, from hir (long) + ael (brow) + glas (silver, grey).