A quick guide to the pronunciation of Welsh, Irish, Scotish, Manx and Cornish names that have been featured on the blog. For all these languages, regional accents prevail in different areas and can make names sound slightly different. Ask various people from Ireland to pronounce Saoirse and you'll get answers ranging from SAIR-shə, SEER-shə and SUR-shə. I have endeavored to give the most standard pronunciation.
I would recommend www.babynamesofireland.com to listen to Irish names and www.bbc.co.uk/wales/livinginwales/sites/howdoisay to listen to Welsh names.
This post will be updated as names are featured.
B = Breton, C = Cornish, I = Irish, M = Manx, S = Scottish, W = Welsh.
Pronunciation Key
Aalin (M) AY-lin
Aderyn (W) a-DE-rin
Ailsa (S) AYL-sə
Aislinn (I) ASH-leen
Angharad (W) an-HAR-ad [audio]
Aneira (W) an-AY-rə
Aneirin (W) an-AY-rin* [audio]
Aneurin (W) an-AY-rin [audio]
Aoife (I) EE-fə
Bebinn (I) BAY-veen
Beoan (I) BŌ-ən
Binne (I) BEE-nə
Bleiz (B) BLAYZ
Briallen (W) bree-AHL-en [audio]
Cadan (W) CAD-an
Cadel (W) CAD-el
Cadoc (W) CAD-oc
Cadogan (W) ca-DOG-ən [audio]
Cadwaladr (W) cad-WOL-a-də [audio]
Caradoc (W) ca-RAD-oc
Caja (C) CAY-jə
Caoilinn (I) KAYL-in
Caoimhe (I) KEE-və
Caolan (I) KAYL-ən
Cai (W) KĪ [audio]
Carys (W) KA-ris [audio]
Ceinwen (W) KAYN-wen* [audio]
Celyn (W) KEL-in
Ceridwen (W) ke-RID-wen [audio]
Cerys (W) KE-ris [audio]
Cianan (I) KEEN-ən
Ciara (I) KEER-ə
Cliona (I) KLEE-ə-nə
Criodan (I) KREE-ədan
Crionan (I) KREE-ənan
Diarmait (I) DEER-mət [audio]
Dyfan (W) DUV-an [audio]
Eamonn (I) AY-mən
Eile (I) AY-lə
Eilir (W) AY-leer*
Eilidh (S) AY-lee
Eira (W) AY-rə* [audio]
Eirlys (W) AYR-lis*
Eirwen (W) AYR-wen*
Eleri (W) el-E-ree
Elestren (C) el-EST-ren
Elowen (C) el-Ō-wen
Esyllt (W) es-IHLT
Eurig (W) AY-rig
Faolan (I) FAYL-ən
Fflur (W) FLEER
Gruffudd (W) GRIF-əth
Gwenllian (W) gwen-HLEE-an
Hywel (W) HŌ-wel [audio]
Idris (W) ID-ris [audio]
Ioan (W) YŌ-ən
Iola (W) YŌ-la [audio]
Iolo (W) YŌ-lo [audio]
Iona (S) ī-Ō-nə
Iorwerth (W) YOR-werth [audio]
Isla (S) Ī-lə
Jago (C) JAY-go
Kelynen (C) kel-LIN-en
Kensa (C) KEN-zə
Kerensa (C) ke-REN-zə
Laoise (I) LEE-shə
Liadan (I) LEE-ə-dən
Liobhan (I) LEE-vən
Llio (W) HLEE-ō
Luned (W) LIN-ed
Macsen (W) MAX-ən [audio]
Maëlys (B) MAY-lis
Mairead (S) ma-RAYD
Maredudd (W) mə-RED-əth
Meleri (W) me-LE-ree
Mererid (W) me-RE-rid
Neasa (I) NES-ə
Niamh (I) NEEV
Oisin (I) Ō-sheen
Osian (W) OSH-an
Rhodri (W) RHOD-ree
Rhydian (W) RHID-ee-ən
Ruadan (I) ROO-ən
Ruarc (I) ROO-ərc (almost RURK)
Roisin (I) rō-SHEEN
Saorla (I) SAYR-lə
Saoirse (I) SEER-shə
Sian (W) SHARN [audio]
Sibeal (I) shee-BAYL
Sinead (I) shə-NAYD
Siobhan (I) shə-VAWN
Sion (W) SHORN [audio]
Sioned (W) SHON-ed [audio]
Tadhg (I) TEEG
Taliesin (W) tal-ee-ES-in [audio]
Tiarnan (I) TEER-nən
Ysella (C) ee-SEL-ə
* In North Wales (and Standard Welsh) ei is pronounced as AY, however in South Wales it is often pronounced as Ī e.g. Ceinwen is KAYN-wen in North Wales, but often KĪN-wen in South Wales.
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