Welsh names policy

We will:

• Support the Welsh Language Act 1993, which established the principle that the English and Welsh languages should be treated on the basis of equality in public life, and the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 which established the principle that the Welsh language should not be treated less favourably than the English language in Wales, whilst recognising the constraints that exist on some of our mapping.
• Endeavour to achieve consistency and accuracy in the depiction of names within each mapping series and across its range of products
• Recognise all 29 letters of the Welsh alphabet and the accented characters that go with them but reserve the right to record digraph characters as two separate letters within the National Geographic Database (NGD)
• Ensure that official standard forms, common usage and evidence provided by historical forms are all considered when defining the spelling and/or depiction of a name;
• Seek to gain proper authority, through a broadly accepted standards-setting body, for the depiction of Welsh names, but in the case of disagreement retain final editorship to ensure cartographically acceptable mapping and products.

We will not:

• Be the Authority for Welsh names; or
• Convert to Welsh any existing anglicised names on the authority of any one individual or vice versa.

Ordnance Survey works closely with the Welsh Language Commissioner in determining names in the built environment. The Welsh Language Commissioner has compiled a list of all Welsh place names (standardised Welsh place names list).

Welsh names policy in English (PDF)