If this is the first time you’re seeing this name, which country/language would you guess it belongs to?
There are a lot of comments saying, it looks Middle Eastern (I guess by that they mean it’s Arabic) and there were also few that said it looked [name_f]Asian[/name_f]. What do you think, do you agree? If so why?
[name_f]My[/name_f] cousin is due in april, and this is the name my uncle & aunt want to use, but their thought was expressing their heritage with this name, however it looks like it’s doing the opposite.
Welsh I presume because it was the name of [name_f]Maureen[/name_f] O’[name_f]Hara[/name_f]'s character in “[name_m]How[/name_m] [name_u]Green[/name_u] Was [name_f]My[/name_f] [name_f]Valley[/name_f]”. I love the name.
I know it’s Welsh, so no guesswork for me Seems quite obviously Welsh though, but then I’m more familiar with Celtic languages. The [name_f]Asian[/name_f]/Arabic comments are quite surprising, seeing as those names are fairly common here and [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] doesn’t really fit that style. Perhaps it’s unheard of or foreign-looking in other countries, but [name_m]Wales[/name_m] is right next door to us. I’m sure a lot of people will actually know of someone named it, have heard of it or at least recognise it, if they gave it some thought. [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] [name_u]Rees[/name_u], anyone?
It truly did look Middle Eastern to me as I had no prior connections nor exposure to this name.
However, one quick google search clarified that it was indeed a Welsh name. I never would have guessed.
I know it’s Welsh, because of the actress [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] [name_u]Rees[/name_u].
There are a lot of comments saying, it looks Middle Eastern (I guess by that they mean it’s Arabic) and there were also few that said it looked Asian. What do you think, do you agree?
I think in [name_m]Britain[/name_m] it is widely understood to be a Welsh name, but if most of the people writing those comments weren’t British, then it’s probably because of unfamiliarity with Welsh names.
That is the upsetting part for them. The baby will we born in [name_m]Wales[/name_m], but because of my uncle’s job, will live in many different places around the world, so that’s why it’s important for them to express their Welsh heritage. Most people aren’t familiar with Welsh language and names, so we never expect anybody to realise it’s is a Welsh name at first sight, but when people think it’s Middle Eastern, or like you said, never would’ve guessed it’s Welsh, that’s a bit too much.
It’s a Welsh name. It’s personally not one I would go for though. It seems a bit…, I’m not sure what the term is, TOO Medieval? There’s something about it that I find unappealing, but I’m not sure what.
Sadly, although it is Welsh, many people from outside the UK/with no Welsh background/experience with [name_m]Wales[/name_m] would likely guess that it’s Arabic. I would suggest going for something a bit more, obviously Welsh and straightforward (I know charlieandperry1 said this one seems it, but, from a non-Welsh speaking perspective, it really isn’t), something like;
[name_f]Arianwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Anwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Arwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Betsan[/name_f]
[name_f]Bronwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Cerys[/name_f]
[name_f]Delyth[/name_f]
[name_f]Eira[/name_f] (I know a little girl who’s parents are Welsh but they now live here in [name_f]Canada[/name_f], and her name is [name_f]Eira[/name_f], everyone seems to love it)
[name_f]Ffion[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Gwendoline[/name_f]
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f]
[name_f]Lowri[/name_f]
[name_f]Lynette[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Morwenna[/name_f] (NB has this down as Welsh)
[name_f]Olwen[/name_f]
[name_u]Penrose[/name_u]
[name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f]
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f]
[name_u]Seren[/name_u]
[name_f]Sian[/name_f]
[name_u]Taliesin[/name_u]
[name_u]Teagan[/name_u]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
Names with ‘Wen’ or ‘[name_u]Wyn[/name_u]’ in them are typically very obviously Welsh
I completely understand wanting to honour their heritage though. [name_f]My[/name_f] great grandfather was Welsh, and I’ve always liked the idea of using a Welsh name to honour my background.
Thank you for posting your ‘obviousy Welsh’ names because I was about to start another topic for it actually I agree that wen/wyn names are widely known as Welsh, however [name_u]Wyn[/name_u] will be the middle name (it’s a family thing), therefore can’t use wen/wyn ending names.
Unfortunately for them, the other names that are currently on their list have other problems. Lleucu is 100% impossible to pronounce by a non-Welsh speaker and [name_m]Bleddyn[/name_m] is a boys name. There’s also Meinir, but the only reason it is on the list is because it’s Welsh, not because they actually like the name that much.
[name_f]Angharad[/name_f] is the name of one of my best friends It’s always seemed like one of the more obvious Welsh names to me. [name_f]My[/name_f] friend has issues with people pronouncing the ‘g’ sometimes, instead of leaving it silent but other than that, everyone she meets knows and recognises that it’s Welsh. I understand the bother of using it outside of the UK though
We have another friend called Gerlinde (almost like ga-linda). That’s apparently a Welsh name, as she’s also Welsh but I’ve never heard of it before.
I also like [name_f]Eleri[/name_f] and [name_f]Lowri[/name_f].
[name_f]My[/name_f] best friend is named Bretta, which is welsh and doesn’t end in -wyn. I really like the combo Bretta [name_u]Wyn[/name_u]. [name_f]Delyth[/name_f] [name_u]Wyn[/name_u] would also be awesome
I would have guessed it was Scottish Gaelic or another Celtic language so the fact it’s Welsh doesn’t surprise me at all.
It doesn’t look even vaguely Arabic and certainly not [name_f]Indian[/name_f]/[name_f]Asian[/name_f] (or whatever else people guessed)… possibly Germanic or Scandinavian, but it has a definite [name_u]North[/name_u] European feel.
This thread is sort of eyeopening… the majority that recognized it as Welsh where from the UK. [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] may not be the most obviously Welsh name, but what is? Welsh names are particularly niche; it’s a tiny country with a rarely spoken language and its names are rarely used outside of [name_m]Wales[/name_m] - even [name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] would look nothing but foreign in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] or Singapore and even to most Americans.
I guess what I’m saying is if they want to use a Welsh name, [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] is no more Welsh sounding to a non-British ear than any other.
Seems quite obviously Welsh though, but then I’m more familiar with Celtic languages. The [name_f]Asian[/name_f]/Arabic comments are quite surprising, seeing as those names are fairly common here and [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] doesn’t really fit that style. Perhaps it’s unheard of or foreign-looking in other countries, but [name_m]Wales[/name_m] is right next door to us. I’m sure a lot of people will actually know of someone named it, have heard of it or at least recognise it, if they gave it some thought. [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] [name_u]Rees[/name_u], anyone?