welsh people help me! !

[followed]

I am Welsh but not Welsh speaking, and I live in London.

I've named my 10 month old Osian and pronunce it OSHun, but recently met some Welsh speakers who pronunce it oshAN. Am I saying it incorrectly (which would be massively embarrassing!) or is my way an acceptable variation? Can't ask anyone irl due to embarrassment.

I'm in a real panic now and thinking of changing his name quickly before the 12 month deadline! I actually don't like the oshAN pronunciation at all but don't want him growing up saying his own name wrong!

Help.

[tiredlady]

Hi,
not a welsh speaker but living in wales for over 20 yrs. Have come across the name Osian lots of times, and I've always heard it pronouced as oshAN sorry.
But really it doesn't matter you know. Just call him OSHan. No one in London will know the difference :)

[mamapants]

I am a welsh speaker and would definitely pronounce it OshAN and would think it very odd to hear oshUN, sounds totally wrong to me sorry.
Maybe you'd get a different response from those in the south of wales.

[bobbinogs]

I'm welsh and would,pronounce it OshAn......but that's not to stop you pronouncing it how you want and I think OshUn is the natural way english people would say it, my Dd is Bethan and I say it bethAn but we're in England and everyone else says BethUn......

[BlueStarsAtNight]

I knew one at university and he pronounced it OSHun. He was welsh and welsh speaking.

[followed]

Oh bluestars you've literally brought a tear to my eye I'm so relieved! Still worried of course, but a little less!

[lililon]

OshAN here as well I'm afraid. Sorry!

[Alisvolatpropiis]

OP I have a friend who's son is names Osian. I've had to say it aloud repeatedly but they say Osh-un. They live in S.Wales, as do I.

[Hatecoffee]

There are 7 Osian in DC school...all pronounced oshAN, I have never heard it pronounced any other way.

[LingDiLong]

I've only heard OshAn but there are plenty of welsh names where there are variations in the pronounciation - especially where there's an 'an' ending. I have a Ioan and pronounce it Yo-An. Yo-un and an almost run together yone also seem to be in use. I've also heard 'steffUn' for 'steffan' and 'MegUn' for 'Megan'.

I really wouldn't worry, it's a subtle difference.

[followed]

Hmmm maybe I'm not explaining my pronunciation very well.

It's exactly the same as the difference between an Welsh accent Bethan and an English accent (or rather a Cardiff accent in my case) Bethan. Does that make more sense and is it still wrong?

I've been trying to say it more Welshy but I sound like I'm putting in an accent (which I guess I am!)

[followed]

Thanks for everyone's advice so far

[followed]

Crosspost LingDi and exactly what I'm trying to get at!! I guess it is because Osian is more unusual that I'm less confident than I would be with Megan etc

[followed]

Well more unusual in London, but obviously not where hatecoffee hangs out!

[LingDiLong]

Honestly, I really wouldn't worry too much, the difference is so subtle. My name has a 'correct' pronounciation and another, just as common pronounciation. It doesn't bother me which people use.

In my 5 years learning welsh I have learnt one thing - there is never one single way of pronouncing any welsh words and names are no exception!

[Hatecoffee]

I hang out and live up North Wales!

Very Popular up here, been so for the last 8-10 years!

[FriskyHenderson]

Even the English say Hel-lin and Hel-lun for Helen - is it that different?

[followed]

Frisky, that is the sort of difference I'm talking about yes. Where you might be a -en, -in or -un depending on your accent.

I guess the difference is that there are no Greek speakers to offend!

That is interesting you are North Wales hatecoffee, I think this has all come about because of my Cardiff accent. I can hear that it is OshAn in proper Welsh!

I suppose I just need to decide now whether to change my pronunciation or the whole name. Or just chill out a bit and assume North Waleans won't find me in London!

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

I am also in North Wales, I have only ever heard Osh-an. I really don't think it matters too much though. It's a great name regardless of how you pronounce it. It's a bit like Dylan....Welsh speakers say Dul-an....but it's the norm to say Dil-an.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

OP

I'm from Cardiff too - say Bethan in the same way as you do.

I think as with many names, accents affect pronounciation.

[Applepiesky]

OshAn....

I'm a fluent welsh speaker and I'm afraid that is the way it's pronounced.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I think we might need to acknowledge Welsh accents vary a bit?

Cardiff accent is vastly different to any of the other accents.

Out of interest - how do posters from other areas of Wales pronounce Lowri?

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

Lo- ree

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

Loh-Rhee it be a bit clearer.

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

To be a bit clearer.