The adoption of “word names” is much more widespread and accepted in Welsh, and are regularly heard within Wales.
Names of flowers and trees are, naturally, a popular choice too.
But there are still many that have been little used so far, names which are accessible to English-speakers too.
So if you have Welsh heritage you want to honor, or simply a love of Celtic lands, here’s a collection of Welsh flowers and trees for you:
(If you want to say ‘em like a native, general pronunciation guidance given at end — unless something is particularly tricky)
- Aethnen — aspen
- Afal — apple
- Afallen — apple-tree
- Afan — raspberries
- Afanen — raspberry
- Alaw — water-lily (also means “melody”)
- Arian Gwion — yellow rattle (literally Gwion’s silver)
- Banadl — broom
- Bedwen — birch
- Blodyn — flower
- Bronwerth — borage
- Brwynen — rush
- Brythlys — scarlet pimpernel
- Calon Afal — devil’s bit scabious
- Camri — camomile
- Cawnen — reed
- Ceian — carnation
- Ceilys — pink
- Ceirios — cherries
- Celyn — holly
- Celyn Mair — butcher’s broom
- Cenawen — catkins
- Clais yr hydd — dog’s mercury
- Clais y moch — clary
- Clefryn — sheep’s bit scabious
- Collen — hazel
- Corsen — reed
- Crinllys — dog violet
- Crys y brenin — henbane
- Cyren — currants
- Dail Arian — silverweed
- Danadl — blind nettle
- Delia — dahlia
- Derwen — oak
- Draen — briar
- Draenen ddu — blackthorn
- Draenen wen — hawthorn
- Dringol — common sorrel
- Drysïen (“DRUH-see-en) — briar
- Dwyfog (“DOO-ee-vog”) — wood betony
- Eglyn — golden saxifrage
- Eirin — plums
- Eirinen — plum
- Eirlys — snowdrop
- Eithen — gorse
- Elinog — bittersweet
- Erwain — meadowsweet
- Eurlys — yellow vetch
- Fandon — woodruff
- Fioled — violet
- Ffarwel haf — Michaelmas daisy
- Ffion — foxgloves
- Ffwsia — fuchsia
- Gellygen — pear-tree
- Glesyn — borage
- Greulys — groundsel
Pronunciation notes:
- “ae,” “ai,” “au,” and “eu” pronounced “eye”
- “c” always hard, as in “cat”
- “e” pronounced like “e” in “bet,” “set,” etc
- “ei” pronounced “ay”
- “f” pronounced “v”
- “ff” pronounced “f”
- “g” always hard, as in “get”
- “ll” see Extreme Welsh Names
- “s” always “s,” never “z”; often “sh” before an “i”
- “th” pronounced like the “th” in “thistle”
- “y” in the last syllable is pronounced “i” as in “in”, but in most other syllables, is pronounced “uh.”
(In words of two syllables, stress is divided equally. In words of three, stress usually falls on the first syllable, unless otherwise stated.)
Part 2 next week!
Nook of Names
Lovely! I could eat this post up. Celyn is one of my personal favourites.
I was discussing Eirlys a few months ago with my mum as I told her about the Victorian botanist who named all his children after plants that flowered at the time of their birth. She considered my sister — born in January — and said “I guess Miranda would be Snowdrop then….Oh, no! Miranda is absolutely not a Snowdrop!” (My sister is certainly more of a fiery character so the sweet snowdrop did not feel appropriate).
I suggested Eirlys and she loved it. So now my sister gets called Eirlys every so often
Ffion is one of my favorites. I also like Eirlys.
I can actually see Derwen and Camri working really well in the mainstream, but Ffion is lovely.
I really like the idea of Camri, I could see her working well. As for the others, Ffion, Ffwsia and Delia stand out.
Camri is also a Toyota….
Another great post. I really like Celyn and Eirlys. I also like these:
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Welsh Flower Names — Part 1
February 20, 2012 by Nook of Names
The adoption of “word names” is much more widespread and accepted in Welsh, and are regularly heard within Wales.
Names of flowers and trees are, naturally, a popular choice too.
But there are still many that have been little used so far, names which are accessible to English-speakers too.
So if you have Welsh heritage you want to honor, or simply a love of Celtic lands, here’s a collection of Welsh flowers and trees for you:
(If you want to say ‘em like a native, general pronunciation guidance given at end — unless something is particularly tricky)
Afallen
Afan
Afanen
Bronwerth
Brwynen
Camri
Ceilys-this is rather pretty
Ceirios
Corsen
Crinllys
Delia
Derwen
Drysïen-this has a very pleasant sound
Eirin -this one is cool and subtle, most would probably assume its a form of Erin or Irene, which makes the name feel all the more familiar
Eirinen-so lovely
Fandon-would make a nice natury male name
Fioled
Ffion
Gellygen