The Eryri National Park Authority (previously Snowdonia NPA) has recommended the use of some Welsh place-names when referring to features in Snowdonia, Wales, now known by its Welsh language name, .
Most place-names in Snowdonia are of Welsh origin, with some of them having connections to Welsh folklore. However, a few recent private name-changes from Welsh into English have inspired a campaign to use the Welsh names of places in Snowdonia which currently use English place names or anglicisations, to allow the promotion of the Welsh language and culture. Standardisation of Welsh place names has also been conducted, choosing a preferred Welsh form over multiple versions.
In November 2024, the authority stated that the change to Yr Wyddfa and Eryri over Snowdon and Snowdonia respectively, had been a "success".
Background The status of Welsh place names had been debated for decades, with them only becoming present on road signs in Wales in the 1960s following a long campaign to make the signs bilingual rather than in English only. Protesters argued that the use of such English-only signs was an indication that Wales was an "English and British territory" and that bilingual signs would distinguish Wales as a separate country with its own language and identity.
In recent years, localised private name changes have been occurring elsewhere in Wales, replacing the previously long-standing Welsh name with an English alternative. This include the renaming of an Aberystwyth caravan park from the long-standing "Glan y Môr" to an English name "Aber Bay", a Ceredigion farm changing its name from "Faerdre Fach" to "Happy Donkey Hill" to appeal to tourists, and the use of "Cable Bay" over the older Welsh name of "Porth Trecastell" in Anglesey, and the tourist name "Lake Australia" over the older Welsh "Llyn Bochlwyd" in Snowdonia. These were cited as examples of Welsh place-names being under threat by language campaigners, who are now leading a campaign for the protection, re-emphasis and "rediscover[y]" of Welsh place-names.
In 2022, a Gwynedd councillor put forward a motion asking the national park authority to stop using the English names Snowdon and Snowdonia.
On 16 November 2023, the Snowdonia National Park Authority voted to use the Welsh names Eryri and Yr Wyddfa, over their pre-existing names used in English, Snowdonia and Snowdon, respectively. In the same meeting, the NPA adopted a paper on "Place Name Principles" which would be the guide the NPA is to use when addressing place-names within the national park. By the time of the meeting, the NPA had already prioritised the Welsh names in documents, while keeping the English names in parentheses as a temporary courtesy. The NPA stated that using the Welsh name would make visitors engage with the Welsh language and culture.
The national park authority worked with Cardiff University School of Welsh and the Welsh Language Commissioner to recommend a standard list of the names of lakes in Snowdonia. The NPA then voted in a meeting on 15 November 2023 to accept the list's recommendations; it voted unanimously in favour. The NPA stated that the list was to "safeguard" the area's Welsh place-names and its heritage. The list most notably recommends that use of all the few English-language names for lakes in Snowdonia be discouraged in favour of their Welsh names. Notable discouraged names are "Bala Lake" (or "Lake Bala"), to be replaced by "Llyn Tegid"; "Australia Lake" (or "Lake Australia"), to be replaced by "Llyn Bochlwyd"; and "Bearded Lake", to be replaced by "Llyn Barfog". The move was described as being part of a campaign by language activists for historical sites to be referred to by their Welsh names only, and was referred to as "Welsh names for Welsh places".
The NPA is to look at the names of waterfalls and mountains in the national park.
In November 2024, the authority stated that the name changes had been a "success" as many businesses and media had followed suit. The authority stated that a summer survey showed "strong support" from locals and visitors for the name change. While some concerns were raised over misconceptions by some that the Welsh names were new and mispronunciations, the authority stated that the change resulted in the park being more associated with a Welsh identity, and more different from other UK national parks. The authority is set to make a pronunciation guide, a report on the changes, and update its logo which still contains Snowdonia.
Notable individual renamings
Carnedd Uchaf to Carnedd Gwenllian – 2009 name change to honour Gwenllian of Wales. There has been dispute over the spelling of the name of the mountain Cadair Idris, with the national park authority preferring "Cader Idris". It has been argued that "Cadair" is the more-widely used correct spelling. Snowdon changed to Yr Wyddfa – On 16 November 2022, the NPA announced that it would be phasing out its use of "Snowdon" and instead be using the Welsh name "Yr Wyddfa". The Welsh Language Commissioner still recognises Snowdon in their list of standardised Welsh place-names in Gwynedd. Snowdonia National Park changed to Eryri National Park – On 16 November, the NPA announced that it would be phasing out its use of "Snowdonia" for the Welsh name "Eryri". The English name is set in law, so would still be required on statutory documents. A local marathon, the Snowdonia Marathon, endorsed this change when announced a rebranding as Marathon Eryri.
Lake name standardisation The main issues with the existing toponymy to be addressed, as part of a standardisation of names, were:
To decide whether a name is to be with or without hyphens, or mutations, and recommend a name over colloquial versions. Consider the history, meaning and origin of the name. Emphasise local use, consultations with those closely connected to the names, and using specialised local knowledge. Using the knowledge of national park wardens to correct any misspellings that have been prevalent on maps for years.
List of standardised lake names The list below is from the documents prepared for the 15 November 2023 meeting in which the national park authority voted on whether to support the list. However, the NPA has not publicly released a list, and it is not known whether its list matches that presented during the meeting. Some alternative names were provided in an earlier NPA meeting.
Various reasons were provided for the selection of names on the original list. Recommended Welsh standard form(s) to be used in both Welsh and English(location provided for disambiguation)Other/former Welsh form(s)Other English name(s) (if any) Creiglyn DyfiCraiglyn Dyfi GlaslynLlyn Glaslyn GloywlynGloyw Lyn Llyn AnafonLlyn Anhafon Llyn AranLlyn Arran Llyn Arenig FachLlyn Arennig Fach Llyn Arenig FawrLlyn Arenig-Fawr Llyn Arennig Fawr Llyn Bach (in Rhyd-y-main) Llyn Bach (in Nant Peris)Llyn Bâch Llyn Bach / Llyn y Tri Greyenyn (in Tal-y-llyn)Potential names relating to "Mach Loop" (Used by nearest car park) Llyn BarfogBearded Lake Llyn BochlwydAustralia Lake Lake Australia Llyn Bodgynydd MawrBod Mawr (colloquial) Llyn Bod (colloquial)
Llyn Bodgynydd Llyn Bodgynydd BachBod Bach (colloquial) Cors Bodgynydd (colloquial) Llyn BodlynBodlyn Llyn BodwenniLlyn Bodweni Llyn Bowydd Llyn Bryn DuLlyn Bryn-du Llyn Bwrw EiraLlyn Bwrw-eira Llyn Bwrw Eira PellafLlyn Bwrw-eira-pellaf Llyn Bychan Llyn Caerwych Llyn CauLlyn y Cau Llyn Clogwyn BrithLlyn Clogwyn-brîth Llyn Clogwyn brith
Llyn Clogwyn-brith Llyn Clyd Llyn Clyd Bach Llyn Coch (in Betws Garmon) Llyn Coch (in Blaenau Ffestiniog)Llyn Côch Llyn CoetyLlyn CoedtyCoedty Reservoir Llyn Conglog Llyn Conglog BachLlyn Conglog-bach Llyn Conglog-bâch Llyn Conglog MawrLlyn Conglog-mawr Llyn Conwy Llyn Corn StwcLlyn Corn y Stwc Llyn Corn-ystwc
Llyn Corn-y-stwc
Llyn Corn-stwc Llyn Cors y BarcudLlyn Cors-y-barcud Llyn Cors Y Barcud
Llyn Corsybarcud Llyn CorunLlyn y Coryn Llyn Cowlyd Llyn Crafanc Llyn Crafnant Llyn Craig y TânLlyn Craig-y-tân Llyn Craig-y-tan Llyn Croesor Llyn Crych y WaunLlyn Grych-y-waun Llyn Crych-y-waen
Llyn Crych-y-waun Llyn Cwm BachLlyn Cwm-bach Llyn Cwm BychanLlyn Cwmbychan Llyn Cwm CorsiogLlyn Cwm-corsiog Llyn Cwm corsiog
Llyn Cwmcorsiog Llyn Cwm Dulyn (in Nebo)Llyn Cwmdulyn Llyn Cwm y FoelLlyn Cwm-y-foel Llyn Cwellyn Llyn Cwm FfynnonLlyn Cwmffynnon Llyn Cwm-y-ffynnon Llyn Cwm HosanLlyn Cwmhosan Llyn Cwm-hosan Llyn Cwm MynachLlyn Cwm-mynach Cwm-Mynach Llyn Cwmorthin Llyn Cwm y FoelLlyn Cwm-y-foel Llyn Cwm Foel Llyn Cwm YstradllynLlyn CwmstradllynCwm Ystradllyn Reservoir Llyn CynwchLlyn Cnwch Llyn Cyri Llyn Cywion Llyn Dinas Llyn Du (in Pren-teg)Llun Du Llyn Du (in Trawsfynydd) Llyn Du (in Bronaber) Llyn Dubach y Bont (in Llan Ffestiniog)Llyn Dubach Y Bont Llyn Dubach-y-Bont
Llyn Dubâch
Llyn DubachDubach Y Bont Lake Llyn Dubach (in Maenofferen)Llun Du-bâch Llun Dubach Llyn Dulyn (in Llanenddwyn) Llyn Du’r Arddu Llyn Dwythwch Llyn Dyrnogydd Llyn Edno Llyn Eiddew BachLlyn Eiddew-bach Llyn Eiddew bach Llyn Eiddew MawrLlyn Eiddew-mawr Llyn Eiddew mawr Llyn Eigiau Llyn Elsi Llyn Foel DinasLlyn Foeldinas Llyn Foel-Dinas Llyn Ffridd y BwlchLlyn Ffridd Y Bwlch Llyn Ffridd-y-bwlch
Llyn Ffridd y-bwlch
Llyn Ffridd(-ybwlch) Llyn FfynhonnauLlyn y Ffynhoniau Llyn Ffynnon y GwasLlyn Ffynnon-y-gwas Llyn Ffynnon-y-Gwas Llyn Gafr Llyn Garneddwen Llyn GeirionnyddLlyn Geirionydd Llyn GelligainLlyn Gelli-Gain Llyn Gelli-gainGelli-Gain Reservoir Llyn Glan GorsLlyn Glangors Llyn Glan-gors Llyn Glas (in Blaenau Ffestiniog) Llyn Glas (in Rhyd-ddu) Llyn Glas (in Llanberis)Liyn Glas Llyn Goddion DuonLlyn Goddionduon Llyn Goddion-duon Llyn Gwernan Llyn Gwynant Llyn Hafod-y-llynLlyn Hafod y Llyn Llyn HesginLlyn Hesgyn Llyn HiraethlynHiraethlyn Llyn Hywel Llyn Idwal Llyn Irddyn Llyn Iwerddon Llyn Jericho Llyn Llagi Llyn LlennyrchLlyn Llenyrch Llyn Llydaw Llyn LlymbrenLlyn Lliwbrân Llyn Lliwbran
Llyn Llyfnbren Llyn Llywelyn Llyn Mair Llyn MyngulLlyn Mwyngil Llyn Tal-y-llyn Tal-y-llyn Lake Llyn Nadroedd Llyn Nantlle Uchaf Llyn Newydd Llyn Ogwen Llyn Owen y DdôlLlyn Owen-y-ddôl Llyn Owen-y-ddol
Llyn Owen-Y-Ddol Llyn Padarn Llyn Pandy Llyn Pen AranLlyn Penaran Llyn PencraigLlyn Pen Craig Llyn Pen Ffridd NewyddLlyn Penffriddnewydd Llyn Pen MoelynLlyn Penmoelyn Llyn Pen y GwrydLlyn Pen-y-gwryd Llyn Penygwryd Llyn Perfeddau Llyn Peris Llyn Pryfed Llyn Pwll y GeleLlyn Pwll-y-gele Llyn PwllygelePwll-y-Gele Llyn Ruck Llyn Sarnau Llyn Serw Llyn Stwlan Llyn Tan y GraigLlyn Tan-y-Graig Llyn Tan-y-graig Llyn Tecwyn Isaf Llyn Tecwyn Uchaf Llyn TegidBala Lake Lake Bala
Lake Tegid Llyn Terfyn Llyn Teyrn Llyn Tomos Lewis Llyn Trawsfynydd Llyn Trefor Llyn Tryweryn Llyn Twr GlasLlyn Twr-glas Llyn Twrglas
Llyn Twr-glâs Llyn TynymynyddLlyn Tyn-y-Mynydd Llyn Wylfa Llyn y BiLlyn-y-Bi Llyn y Biswail Llyn y CefnLlyn-y-cefn Llyn y CŵnLlyn y Cwn Llyn y Drum Llyn y Drum BoethLlyn y Drum-boeth Llyn y Dywarchen (in Ffestiniog) Llyn y Dywarchen (in Betws Garmon) Llyn y Dywarchen (in Llanfihangel-y-traethau a Llandecwyn)Llyn Dywarchen Llyn y FawnogLlyn-y-Fawnog Llyn y FedwLlyn-y-Fedw Llyn y Fign Llyn y FoelLlyn-y-Foel Llyn-y-foel Llyn y Frân Llyn y FrithgraigLlyn y Frith Graig Llyn y Gadair (in Betws Garmon)Llyn y Gader Llyn y Gadair (in Brithdir ac Islaw’r-dref)Llyn-y-Gadair Llyn y Garn Llyn y Garnedd Llyn y Garnedd UchafLlyn y Garnedd-uchaf Llyn y Graig WenLlyn y Graig-wen Llyn y Graig-Wen Llyn y Garreg WenLlyn Gareg-wen Llyn y Gaseg FraithLlyn y Gaseg-fraith Llyn y Gaseg-Fraith
Llyn Caseg-fraith Llyn y Gors Llyn y ManodLlyn Manod Llyn y Morynion (in Ffestiniog)Llyn Morwynion Morynyon Llyn y Morynion (in Llanbedr)Llyn Morwynion Llyn y ParcLlyn Parc Llyn y Tomla Llyn y WrachLlyn-y-Wrach Llyn y Wrysgan Llyn yr Adar Llyn yr Arddu Llyn yr Oerfel Llynnau Barlwyd Llynnau Cerrig y MylltLlynnau Cerrig-y-Myllt