Brynmor
Welsh, "great hill"
Choosing names for Nameberry of the Day has definitely highlighted to me that I might have a bit of a thing for names that sound like they come from Renaissance poems, knightly tales, and historical fantasy novels... Mithian, Taliesin, Gwenonwy, and today...Brynmor.
Derived from a Welsh place name, it makes a rugged and adventurous choice — totally unique but not completely removed from reality either. Given to a small number of boys in England and Wales, it combines the familiar and unisex Brynn, with the end sounds of Theodore, Isidore and Eleanor.
While some may worry it sounds too much like the phrase “bring more” or perhaps too obscure for everyday wear, for me, it doesn’t feel too different to choices like Emrys, Caradoc and Gryffith — nor would it feel totally out of place with new-to-the-stats options for 2025, including Ridoc, Valinor, or Ashbel.
As someone who isn’t naming any real-life babies — only Jellycats, guinea pigs, and fictional characters — I don’t mind names that are perhaps a little impractical, but I’d love to know what you think of Brynmor!
I like Brynmor and I would like to see it used! I think of Brynmor Jones, the former vice chancellor and academic at the University of Hull. The university library is named after him, so to anyone who studied at Hull I think the name is a lot more familiar!