Editor’s note: This post was originally published on November 5, 2008. It was substantially revised and re-posted on February 25, 2013.
She rhymes with Paris, but this tailored name is Welsh, not français.
Thanks to Corinne for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Carys.
You might hear Carys described as a traditional Welsh girls’ name. I suppose that’s not untrue. She’s been in use since the twentieth century, so you could meet a grandmotherly Carys. But it would be better to think of her as a relatively modern innovation, a cousin for Brooke.
Most of the names chosen by Welsh parents would blend in on an American playground. But Carys is among a handful of similar names currently in the nation’s Top 100: Seren, Cerys, Bethan, Cadi, Lowri.
Carys comes from caru – love. This ties to her to some ancient names that share similar elements, like Caradoc or Caradog. Worn by a a first century British chieftain, an eighth century king and a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, Caradoc is seldom heard on children today.
Still, Caradoc could put Carys in the company of names like Samantha and Maxine – the masculine forms date back centuries, while the feminine forms are relatively young.
Carys also gets mixed up with:
- Ceridwen, a Welsh goddess, though she’s usually said to be derived from cerdd – poetry.
- Charis, a Greek name meaning grace. The ch sounds like a k, so Charis and Carys sound alike. Charis was the wife of Hephaestus. There’s also a minor goddess named Charis, one of the three Graces.
Carys has yet to crack the US Top 1000, but she’s gained in use over the last decade. That’s largely thanks to Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. The pair chose the name for their daughter, born in 2003.
Besides, Car- is a traditional element in girls’ names:
- There’s Caroline and company.
- Other feminine forms of Charles include Carla and Carlotta.
- Nicknames like Carrie and Carly are also bestowed independently.
- Cara is an Italian name meaning beloved – one that rose in the US around the same time Welsh parents embraced Carys.
- Elaborations like Carissa and Carina are also heard.
- Let’s not forget the operatic Carmen.
- Katherine-nickname Karen is another favorite.
- Surnames like Carson are sometimes bestowed on girls – likely because it leads so logically to Carrie.
It’s easy to imagine parents considering Carys as an update to Carol or an alternative to Cara. Spelling variant Karis also ranks in the US Top 1000, but whether she’s an invented name inspired by all of the Car/Kar names, or a spin on Carys, it is impossible to say. Karis is also the name of Mick Jagger’s firstborn daughter.
Overall Carys makes for a feminine, but decidedly frills-free pick – a winning combination in 2013. Carys is a compromise between a thoroughly modern pick like Sloane and a restrained vintage choice like Alice. And as Welsh heritage choices go, Carys is far easier to wear than, say, Ceridwen.
If you’re looking for a name that feels modern without being completely invented, this is a great option.
I like the look of Carys but really don’t like her harsh sound – the Welsh singer Cerys Matthews pronouces her name KEHR iss, and from what I can tell the Carys spelling is pronounced (at least in the couple of instances I’ve heard it used) as Verity indicated: KAHR iss.
Actually, I’m stumped by what to say about the pronunciation.
The Welsh Language Board lists both Cerys and Carys as among the most popular names in use, but Carys has a slight edge – she’s #21 versus #29.
As for the vowel sound, I think the challenge is that the name is most common amongst people who speak a version of English that’s slightly different from American English. My best guess is that it should be KAHR iss with an “a” and KEHR iss with an “e” – but I think that most Americans *will* rhyme Carys with Paris. (I’ve only known one person with the name and she did rhyme hers with Paris. Then again, she spelled it with a K.)
In parts of the US, butchering vowel sounds is something of a hobby. I grew up with a funny regional accent myself – ask me to say Florida orange juice. 🙂
I love Carys. It’s been on my list for a while, but some people might mispronounce it so I’d be better off saving it for a middle name.
I worry about the Paris issue too. Paris Hilton ruined that name for me, since she steals other celebs’ boyfriends and she thinks she can get what she wants cuz she’s rich. She comes across to me as a sl**. I never liked Paris as a name anyway, but Ms. Hilton made it worse.
Carys might also be mistaken for Paris, but otherwise, it’s a really cute, but sophisticated name.
I really like it. But I thought it was usually spelled Cerys and pronounced Kerris.
I quite like this name.
Although i don’t think the correct pronounciation is “Car iss”, i know people named this and they pronounce it Keh riss.
🙂
Another & Laney, I sympathise! I’ve liked Paris on a boy since reading “Helen of Troy” and then that tramp had to come along! 🙁 *boo, hiss*
Thanks Verity. That’s the most recent tiny picture I have of her, from the beginning of spring. her hair is sooo much longer now! If I can make an adequate newer one, I shall.
Another, I apologize – you may have! I still don’t have a great system to track all of this, so I usually only credit the person who suggests it when I actually add it to the calendar – an imperfect system.
And I did worry about the Paris rhyming issue. Even without Ms. Hilton, it feels like Paris might be trying a *bit* too hard as a name. With Ms. Hilton? It’s really problematic.
Carys though? I love Carys! If Arthur’s last name didn’t start with an S, I’d shortlist it.
Angie, how exciting! You’ll have to let us know if you’re knitting pink or blue booties. 🙂
BTW, Lola, I keep meaning to tell you how much I love your little Fifi icon!
What? I thought I suggested Carys! Hmph.
Yeah. I love this one. Love it, love it, love it. The only problem I have is that when I suggested it to my friend, she thought I was saying “Paris”. I would not want that mistake to be oft repeated! Paris (to me) is trite and tacky, thanks to Ms Hilton, but Carys still sounds fresh.
I LOVE Carys, and I’m so glad to see it as name of the day. I’ve lurked on this site for a long time, but this inspired me to say something. What’s really funny is that I actually thought I made it up by combining my mom and mother-in-law’s names in looking for a name for a baby girl–then I found out the Welsh origins a little while ago. We’ll see if we use it…it’s in my top 3 right now, and we find out whether it’s a boy or a girl in the next few weeks.
I’m one who falls into the Ceridwen from carydd, based on pronucation and the general inclination to switch i’s & y’s around. (not a new thing at all)
I like her look and don’t mind her sound at all. She’s pretty. A bit lightweight, which is why I generally end up putting her in the middle. (Why does Charis remind me of Scylla? Okay, weird assocation there, ignore me)
I think Carys is aweome, really. Pretty, spunky and sweet. And uncommon too! A real winner of a name. Carys get a big :thumbsup: from me. (I just suggested her to somebody somewhere online!)