What’s happened to all the Welsh names?
I WAS both dismayed and astonished to read the latest “Top 40 girls and boys names in Wales”, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). If those lists are authentic, it is very worrying. Is Wales losing its Welshness and becoming England?
The number of truly Welsh names were very few. Only Mali, Alys and Ffion could be deemed really Welsh among 40 girls’ names and only Arthur, Harri, Osian, Dylan and Tomos among the boys.
The following wonderful Welsh girls’ names were nowhere to be seen among the 40: Awen, Angharad, Anwen, Bethan, Betsan, Branwen, Buddug, Catrin, Cerys, Carys, Ceinwen, Dwynwen, Eleri, Eirian, Eirlys, Elin, Eira, Gwenda, Hafwen, Haf, Heulwen, Lowri, Llinos, Megan, Mair, Myfanwy, Nia, Nerys, Non, Olwen, Prydwen, Rhiannon, Rhian, Rhianedd, Siwan, Sian and Sioned.
Nor were these names among the 40 boys: Aled, Alun, Aneurin, Bedwyr, Berian, Brychan, Bryn, Brynmor, Ceiros, Ceirwyn, Carwyn, Ceredig, Caradog, Dyfed, Dewi, Dafydd, Deiniol, Euros, Eilir, Eirwyn, Emyr, Gwynfor, Gwyn, Glyndwr, Glyn, Gareth, Gethin, Gwyndaf, Gerwyn, Geraint, Gruffydd, Garnon, Hywel, Heulyn, Huw, Hedd, Iwan, Ioan, Ieuan, Idwal, Islwyn, Iestyn, Llyr, Llywelyn, Lyn (my name – it is a diminutive of Llywelyn, and centuries older than that given to English girls), Llwyd, Meirion, Maldwyn, Malgwyn, Meredydd, Myrddin, Owain, Peredur, Rhys, Rhodri, Rhydderch, Sion, Steffan, Trystan, Teifi, Teifion, Taliesin and Wyn.
I have listed 100 purely Welsh names there that do not feature anywhere in the 80 most popular names given to babies in Wales, according to the ONS. Yet they include the names of our Welsh princes, kings, poets, saints, historical figures, princesses and heroines. They even include our patron saint, Dewi. They also include descriptive names for children, seasons of birth and place-name links. But where are they all? What’s happening to Wales? I could have listed many more, by the way. We have a truly extensive, rich variety of beautiful, centuries-old personal names in Wales.
Come on you budding Welsh parents, don’t forget your wonderful Welsh history and your unique heritage. Don’t let these fantastic historic names disappear from Wales for ever.
Don’t ever let Wales become England. Mind you, I’m still absolutely amazed that more boys in Wales were named Harrison, Roman, Reuben, Theodore and Mason than were called Gareth, Rhys or Owain. Are those really genuine Welsh lists?
I also wonder if Noah is the leading boy’s name on your list because of all the scare-mongering regarding rising sea levels.
Lyn Jenkins (Mr), Gwbert, Cardigan