Buzz
As a native English speaker, it’s common to approach names written in the Roman alphabet using English pronunciation rules. For instance, Naoise might be read as “Nay-OYS,” but it’s actually pronounced “NEE-shuh.” This is just one of numerous examples that can confuse those unfamiliar with Celtic languages.
Welsh names, from Awsta to Ynyr, also present their own challenges. While attempting the pronunciations below, remember that Welsh—like many languages—features diverse dialects and accents, so variations exist. The phonetic guides here are primarily based on a BBC audio resource for popular Welsh names, which you can listen to here.
Although there’s no single “right” way to pronounce each name, many common mistakes can be avoided. For example, the Welsh dd doesn’t sound like the d in dog. To help you navigate these nuances, here’s a brief overview of some Welsh consonants that often trip up English speakers.
Welsh Phoneme | Welsh Pronunciation |
|---|---|
dd | Makes a “th” sound, like those in ‘this’ and ‘that.’ In other words, you use your voice box to utter it (as opposed to the voiceless “th” sounds in ‘thing’ and ‘thaw’). |
f | Makes a “v” sound. |
ll | To make the Welsh “ll” sound, put the tip of your tongue right behind your front teeth, just like you would if you were about to utter a regular English “l” sound. But instead of using your voice box to make a noise, just blow out so air escapes on either side of your tongue. |
r | The Welsh ‘r’ is always rolled. |
rh | The Welsh ‘rh’ is basically pronounced “hr” (and you still have to roll the ‘r’). |
1. Awsta
The Welsh equivalent of Augusta is pronounced as “OW-stuh,” with the “OW” sounding like the word cow.
2. Bleddyn
Bleddyn is articulated as “BLEH-THIN,” where the “th” resembles the sound in that.
3. Ceinwen
Ceinwen is pronounced as “KAYN-WEN,” similar to saying “cane when.”
4. Cadwgan
Cadwgan is articulated as “KA-doo-GAN.”
5. Dafydd
The Welsh form of David is pronounced “DA-VITH,” with the “th” sounding like the one in that.
6. Dyfan
Dyfan is pronounced “DUH-VAN,” not “dye fan.”
7. Geraint
Geraint is articulated as “GEHR-INT,” with the second syllable rhyming with pint.
8. Heledd
Heledd is pronounced “HELL-ETH,” with the “th” sounding like the one in that.
9. Hywel
Hywel is articulated as “HUH-WELL.”
10. Ieuan
Despite its many vowels, Ieuan is simply pronounced “YEH-YAN.”
11. Ioan
The Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd’s first name is pronounced “YOH-ahn.” (His surname, Gruffudd, is said as “GRIF-ith,” with the “th” sounding like the one in that.)
12. Iwan
Iwan Rheon from Game of Thrones pronounces his first name as “EE-wahn” and his last name as “HREH-awn.”
13. Llewelyn
Llewelyn is pronounced “lloo-EL-in.” (To master the initial “ll” sound, position the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth, as if preparing to say a standard English “l.” Then, instead of vocalizing, exhale so air flows around the sides of your tongue.)
14. Llwyd
Llwyd is simply “LLOYD,” with the starting “ll” sound matching the one in Llewelyn above.
15. Morfydd
Morfydd Clark, star of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, pronounces her first name as “MOR-vith,” with the “th” sounding like the one in that.
16. Myfanwy
Myfanwy is typically pronounced “muh-VAN-wee” when spoken quickly, but it can be elongated as “muh-VAN-oo-ee,” especially in the traditional Welsh folk song.
17. Meic
The Welsh equivalent of Mike is articulated as “MAKE.”
18. Owain
Owain is usually pronounced as “OH-WINE.”
19. Rhian
Rhian is articulated as “HREE-ANN.”
20. Rhys
The name Rhys, as in House of the Dragon’s Rhys Ifans and The Americans’ Matthew Rhys, is pronounced “HREES,” featuring a rolled r (though the Americanized version simplifies it to “REESE”).
21. Sian
The pronunciation of Sian differs from cyan—it’s articulated as “SHAN.”
22. Sion
Both the Irish Sean and the Welsh Sion share the same pronunciation: “SHAWN.”
23. Sioned
Once you’re familiar with Sion, pronouncing Sioned becomes straightforward: “SHAWN-ED.”
24. Taliesin
The pronunciation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin estate is “tahl-ee-ESS-in.”
25. Ynyr
The name Ynyr is spoken as “UH-NEER.”
