I have been considering this as a middle name for one of my first name picks: [name]Hugo[/name]. I like it for its Welsh roots which connect me to my family (while [name]Hugo[/name] is a just-'cause-I-like-it pick). But I have some trepidation regarding the name…
Concerns:
What is the proper spelling? Two l’s all around: [name]Llewellyn[/name] or two l’s then one: [name]Llewelyn[/name] (or something else entirely?). I like to stick to original/proper spellings when I can
A big concern is the feminine -ellen sound and the “feminine-looking” -lyn ending. A lot of Welsh names have y’s in them, so I don’t mind. But to you think a little [name]Hugo[/name] [name]Llewellyn[/name] would be just mortified to tell people his middle name?
I have found other places a supposed variant: [name]Leoline[/name]/Leolin. However, I haven’t been able to get a definitive pronunciation (lee-OH-leen/lihn, [name]LEE[/name]-oh-leen/lihn, [name]LAY[/name]-oh-leen/lihn, lay-OH-lin/leen…) or its legitimacy as a name (I’ve read it’s based on llew meaning ‘lion’ in Welsh, but that the original spelling of [name]Llewellyn[/name] uses a y??). I like it because I feel it has a bit more of a masculine vibe. But I wonder if [name]Hugo[/name] [name]Leoline[/name]/Leolin has long-o sounds that are too close together?
I love [name]Llewellyn[/name]. It’s so handsome and cool. According to what I could find, the proper spelling is [name]Llewelyn[/name] but that that’s just a variant of the Welsh [name]Llywelyn[/name]. But, if you go with that spelling, the site says that then the Llyw means “leader” instead of [name]Llew[/name] meaning “lion” so I’d go with [name]Llewellyn[/name]/[name]Llewelyn[/name] as that’s the way I’ve seen it spelled.
I don’t think it’s too feminine. I think [name]Hugo[/name] helps it sounds more masculine and I don’t think he would be mortified to tell people his middle name. There are tons of people with way worse or just flat out weird middle names out there, so a legit name like [name]Llewelyn[/name] should be fine.
I also don’t like that supposed alternative name. I don’t think it makes it looks more masculine (as it just reminds me of the female name [name]Leontine[/name]). [name]Just[/name] stick with [name]Llewelyn[/name]/[name]Llewellyn[/name]. It’s so handsome.
I’d worry about people being able to pronounce it right if you don’t live in [name]England[/name] or [name]Wales[/name]. The ‘llew’ sound is hard to make, sort of a cross between ‘cloo’ and a ‘hloo’.
I like it as a name though And if it’s a middle then you aren’t going to have to say it all the time anyway. I don’t think it sounds girly either and the ‘ellyn’ ending is more ‘elin’ than ‘ellen’ anyway.
I really like both [name]Hugo[/name] and [name]Llewelyn[/name]. [name]Even[/name] as a combo for someone else’s kid. However, if it were my own I would be considering if it’s too much of an odd-ball name. (I usually like quirky combos). [name]Both[/name] [name]Hugo[/name] (while on the rise) and [name]Llewelyn[/name] are fairly uncommon names and I’d consider changing one to something more “normal”. But that said I’m not really sure what to suggest that would be nearly as handsome as [name]Hugo[/name] [name]Llewelyn[/name] so… I don’t know… I guess i’m saying great names and I understand you wondering about the wearability of the combo in real life.
You need two double-Ls. It’s a different sound in Welsh (the normal L versus the wet “chluh” sound renrose was describing). [name]Llewellyn[/name]. [name]Prince[/name] [name]Llewellyn[/name] was a great hero in [name]Wales[/name] and his name is still given out of patriotic and historical pride.
Despite its loveliness, I think outside of the UK you would be met with a lot of raised eyebrows and strained silence when it comes to his place on the class roll call.
I’m not planning to use it as a first name (so he probably wouldn’t get it in class I assume, as I’ve never had my middle name called out in roll). Also, I’m not hugely concerned about the slight h-sound that precedes the l-sounds in the name being pronounced correctly; I’m pretty okay with them just being said as l-sounds by Americans. Interestingly enough, there is a street named [name]Llewellyn[/name] near my house in [name]California[/name]. So, obviously it’s pretty uncommon, but I guess I wouldn’t mind so much in the middle name spot?
With the h-sounds that proceed the l-sounds in the more Welsh pronunciation of the name, does that make the h-sound in [name]Hugo[/name] kind of too repetitive/alliterative?
[name]Hugo[/name] has been in the top 1000 for over 100 years and is at just above 500 right now… that doesn’t scream weird/uncommon to me, I guess.
Thank you for all the feedback so far. Are there any more opinions?
I’ve said this out loud a few times now both ways round, doing the best I can with my Welsh pronunciation. ‘[name]Hugo[/name] [name]Llewellyn[/name]’ actually flows really well, better than I was expecting! Lol. The ‘o’ in [name]Hugo[/name] and the ‘oo’ in [name]Llewellyn[/name] sort of tie them together.
When I say it, it comes out like ‘hyou-go chloo-eh-chlin’.
[name]Llewellyn[/name] is a terrifiic name and it has the in vogue nn of [name]Lou[/name]. I love its ‘Welshness’ (pardon my new word). I don’t think it is a bit girly at all. So don’t worry [name]Hugo[/name] [name]Llewellyn[/name] is a fine name, it sounds great. In Australia there would not be a problem with it at all as we have strong links to Great [name]Britain[/name] and love all the names from the British Isles.