The aim of this site is to provide a convenient resource for checking whether English place-names in Wales have a corresponding Welsh form.

The site is based on an easily searchable interactive database. When relevant entries are available, a definition, information regarding location (parish, county, unitary authority) and a grid reference are provided.

If the relevant information is to be found in the archive, an answer will be sent to the enquirer within two working days and it will also be added to the interactive database. If an answer isn’t to be had within the Centre’s archival resources, a message to this effect will be sent to the enquirer and the enquiry will be stored for research in the future.

A word about the forms

The forms of place-names offered here are recommendations. The intention of this website isn’t to lay down the law regarding the correctness or otherwise of forms.

At present, cities, towns, villages and parishes are included in the database. It isn’t yet fully comprehensive; further entries are constantly being added to the database. The names of rivers, mountains and other topographical features will be added soon. A collection of the coastal names of Wales was added on the 31st of March 2009. Information about this work, including the methodology and background, can be found on the Names of Welsh Coastal Features page.

While putting the list together, several different sources were referred to and, because these sources weren’t always consistent with regard to the forms offered, a choice had to be made between them. Consequently, when choosing recommended forms, the guidelines of the Welsh Language Board’s Place-Names Standardization Team were followed whenever possible (see below):

Place-Name Standardization Guidelines

1. Conform to the priniciples of the standard orthography of the Welsh-language at the start of the 21st century.
2. Recognise, as a starting point, forms recommended in the two standard works Rhestr o Enwau Lleoedd / A Gazetteer of Welsh Place-Names (Elwyn Davies, 1967) (REL) and Welsh Administrative and Territorial Units (Melville Richards, 1969) (WATU) and the recommendations of the Welsh Language Board’s Advisory Committee on the Standardization of Names.
3. Recognise that there are nationally recognised exceptions, particularly in connection with the use of the hyphen.
   Maesteg, Llanrwst, Llanrug, Llandaf, Caerdydd
4. Bear in mind evidence regarding origin and meaning when that assists in the discussion of form and orthography.
   Eglwys Gymyn, Llan-non, Llandygái
5. Reject pedantic forms, antiquarian restorations, literal translations and creative coinages
   Gwrecsam , Dyffryn (= Y Fali), Rhydwen (= Chwitffordd)
   unless there is evidence that the form has established itself locally and nationally:
   Brychdyn, Cei Connah
6. Consider dialect evidence or local usage when discussing spelling, pronunciation and accentuation , especially if said usage has established itself nationally
   Dole, Pencader, Cwm Cou, Froncysylltebut adhere to standard orthography as much as possible, bearing in mind that a name belongs to the whole of Wales and, perhaps, appears in a number of places in Wales
   Biwmares, Cadair Idris, Blaenau Gwent
7. Aim to use one form only when there is only a letter or two of difference between the Welsh form and the ‘English’ form (giving precedence to the Welsh form). This is also the wish of the Ordnance Survey and the highway authorities.
   Tywi, Cilgeti, Llanfihangel Crucornau
   Established forms are acknowledged
   Caeriw/Carew, Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil
8. Differentiate between the names of places and settlements (when the above guidelines are used) and secondary sites or topographic terms (when the generic element can be referred to in English or Welsh).
   Hornby Cave/Ogof Hornby (Gogarth), Llwybr Clawdd Offa/Offa’s Dyke Path
   but use Welsh only if that is the acknowledged form
   Ynys Dulas, Coedydd Aber
9. Recommend rather than lay down the law.
10. Avoid coinages and translations.