[Opinions] So, I've Been Bitten by the Celtic Bug...
At one time I didn't care for Irish and Welsh names, because they struck me as overly trendy, but I've gradually come to discover that I absolutely adore some Celtic names. The best part is, I've solved the problem of not having enough good boy names on my list. Here's my list, WDYT? I've included both English spellings (which I'd actually use) and Celtic spellings. Asterisks indicate names I really love:
GIRLS
Nimue*
Neve / Niamh*
Fflur
Enid
Gwyneth
Elen
Bride / Brighid*
Carys / Cerys
Morwenna
Isolde / Iseult* (i-SOOLT)
Ena / Eithne*
BOYS
Lachlan / Lochlann*
Calum*
Gareth*
Caedmon* - I think I have a new favorite name.
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan* (YO-in) - This presents a small problem, since I don't prn Ewan and Eoghan the same way. Do you think Eoin would be more likely to be prn like YO-in by North Americans?
Owen
Ross - I doubt this will last long.
Nevin / Nivin / Naomhan
Cameron*
Shan / Sian - Is it wrong that I like this better for a boy than a girl?
GIRLS
Nimue*
Neve / Niamh*
Fflur
Enid
Gwyneth
Elen
Bride / Brighid*
Carys / Cerys
Morwenna
Isolde / Iseult* (i-SOOLT)
Ena / Eithne*
BOYS
Lachlan / Lochlann*
Calum*
Gareth*
Caedmon* - I think I have a new favorite name.
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan* (YO-in) - This presents a small problem, since I don't prn Ewan and Eoghan the same way. Do you think Eoin would be more likely to be prn like YO-in by North Americans?
Owen
Ross - I doubt this will last long.
Nevin / Nivin / Naomhan
Cameron*
Shan / Sian - Is it wrong that I like this better for a boy than a girl?
Replies
I like:
Nimue - I've liked this name since I was about 7.
Enid
Brighid
Carys
Morwenna
Lachlan / Lochlann
Calum
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan - I'd pronounce Ewan different than Eoin and Eoghan (which I pronounce like Owen). I don't think North Americans would pronounce any of those names YO-in. I love the name Owen, and I'd consider using Eoin or Eoghan instead.
Owen
Nevin - There was a guy I went to high school with this name, but he's the only one I've ever met. I always thought it was a neat name.
Nimue - I've liked this name since I was about 7.
Enid
Brighid
Carys
Morwenna
Lachlan / Lochlann
Calum
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan - I'd pronounce Ewan different than Eoin and Eoghan (which I pronounce like Owen). I don't think North Americans would pronounce any of those names YO-in. I love the name Owen, and I'd consider using Eoin or Eoghan instead.
Owen
Nevin - There was a guy I went to high school with this name, but he's the only one I've ever met. I always thought it was a neat name.
This message was edited 11/6/2007, 5:50 AM
I would also pronounce Ewan and Eoghan differently. I don't know about North America but in the UK Eoghan and Eoin is pronounced the same as Owen.
Sian is definitely a girl's name. To use it on a boy would be the equivalent of naming a boy Jane. If you like the sound, Sion is the Welsh equivalent of Sean and pronounced the same (in England, anyway). Shan might work for a boy if you pronounce it Shann, (whereas Sian is Shahn).
Of your list I like:
Niamh
Carys and Cerys
Sian
Lachlan - I don't like Lochlann as it looks made up to me and I think Lachlan is a nice name and quite unusual (except in Australia)
Calum (also like Callum. This spelling seems to be more popular at the moment)
Owen
Ross
Cameron
Sian is definitely a girl's name. To use it on a boy would be the equivalent of naming a boy Jane. If you like the sound, Sion is the Welsh equivalent of Sean and pronounced the same (in England, anyway). Shan might work for a boy if you pronounce it Shann, (whereas Sian is Shahn).
Of your list I like:
Niamh
Carys and Cerys
Sian
Lachlan - I don't like Lochlann as it looks made up to me and I think Lachlan is a nice name and quite unusual (except in Australia)
Calum (also like Callum. This spelling seems to be more popular at the moment)
Owen
Ross
Cameron
GIRLS
Nimue*- sounds pretty, but I can't get my head around the pronounciation. It still looks like Nim-yoo to me
Neve / Niamh* I've loved this one for ages. Niamh looks much prettier. (for some reason I have no issues with the pronounciation)
Fflur - prefer Fleur
Enid- nice but I just think Enid Blyton then stop.
Gwyneth- again nice, but I stop thinking after Gwyneth Paltrow
Elen- so-so
Bride / Brighid* so-so
Carys / Cerys Love it! (either spelling I can't decide)
Morwenna NMS
Isolde / Iseult* (i-SOOLT) Love it! prefer Isolde
Ena / Eithne* meanings a bit odd...
BOYS
Lachlan / Lochlann* love it!
Calum* love it!
Gareth*
Caedmon* - I think I have a new favorite name. love it!
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan* dislike
Ross - dislike
Nevin / Nivin / Naomhan I don't like it as much as Niamh
Cameron* love it!
Shan / Sian - just a bit. Sean for a boy, Sian for a girl IMO
Nimue*- sounds pretty, but I can't get my head around the pronounciation. It still looks like Nim-yoo to me
Neve / Niamh* I've loved this one for ages. Niamh looks much prettier. (for some reason I have no issues with the pronounciation)
Fflur - prefer Fleur
Enid- nice but I just think Enid Blyton then stop.
Gwyneth- again nice, but I stop thinking after Gwyneth Paltrow
Elen- so-so
Bride / Brighid* so-so
Carys / Cerys Love it! (either spelling I can't decide)
Morwenna NMS
Isolde / Iseult* (i-SOOLT) Love it! prefer Isolde
Ena / Eithne* meanings a bit odd...
BOYS
Lachlan / Lochlann* love it!
Calum* love it!
Gareth*
Caedmon* - I think I have a new favorite name. love it!
Ewan / Eoin / Eoghan* dislike
Ross - dislike
Nevin / Nivin / Naomhan I don't like it as much as Niamh
Cameron* love it!
Shan / Sian - just a bit. Sean for a boy, Sian for a girl IMO