Hello!
I have the name listings from the Office of Population, Census and Surveys
which is a study of the most popular names in England and Wales, taken from
the Civil birth Registers every 10 years 1944-1994.
In 1994 the following Welsh names were in the Top 50 names given to children
in Wales. The number in brackets is the position in the Top 50:
GIRLS
Bethan (7)
Megan (16)
Ffion (25)
Rhiannon (31)
Angharad (34)
Lowri (39)
Sian (40)
Carys (=42)
Rhian (=42)
So - not many traditional Welsh names in the Top 50 for girls in Wales! The
10 most popular girls names were, in order, Lauren, Jessica, Hannah, Sophie,
Rebecca, Amy, Bethan, Emily, Charlotte, Laura.
BOYS
Rhys (10)
Lewis (20)
Ieuan (29)
Gareth (32)
Lloyd (41)
Owen (45)
Aled (48)
Tomos (48)
Sion (50)
The Top 10 boys names were: Daniel, Thomas, Joshua, James, Ryan, Jack,
Jordan, Luke, Matthew and Rhys.
However, although there may not look to be many Welsh names used, the trend
is in fact upwards, especially for girls names. If you look at the 1851
census (for Glamorgan - I haven't looked at Carmarthen), you will be hard
pushed to find any really Welsh girls names used at all. Gwenllian is the
only one found in any quantity. The main names found are Mary, Jane, Sarah,
Margaret, Catherine, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Rebecca, Martha, Rachel, Jennet,
Hannah, Ann, Ruth, Lucy & Matilda. This is due greatly to the influence of
the English and the Church. There were more traditional Welsh names for
boys - Owen, Lloyd,LLewellyn, Jenkin, Lewis, Evan, Rhys, Ieuan etc etc.
Now, in the 1980s and 1990s, a revival has taken place and the traditional
names are once again becoming popular. I wonder if the listings for 2004
will show a further increase in the number of Welsh names in the top 50!
Helen
in Weymouth, Dorset
Listowners: Eng-Surrey-L & Scammell Surname -L
wyside01(a)globalnet.co.uk
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wyside01/
-----Original Message-----
From: Watergrdnr(a)aol.com <Watergrdnr(a)aol.com>
To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com <CARMARTHENSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: 29 March 1999 18:22
Subject: Re: Listers
Hi Pauline and Listers,
I would love a list of popular Welsh names today. Thank you.
Jodie BOWEN Russu
Watergrdnr(a)aol.com
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