Editing Cymru (section)

== Use of {{lang|cy|Cymru}} in English ==
In recent history, in particular following [[Welsh devolution]], calls to drop English-language place-names in Wales in favour of their Welsh-language equivalents have been increasing. These have included calls to prohibit the coining of English-language names for places with existing names in Welsh<ref>{{Cite web |title=Petition to stop Welsh place names being changed into English set to be debated |url=https://north.wales/news/petition-to-stop-welsh-place-names-being-changed-into-english-set-to-be-debated-17423.html |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=North.Wales |language=en}}</ref> and for all non-Welsh place-names in Wales to be removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2023-04-20 |title=Petition launched to scrap non-Welsh place names |url=https://nation.cymru/news/petition-launched-to-scrap-non-welsh-place-names/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref> These attitudes have been criticised by the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' newspaper and by the [[British government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Mark |date=2023-04-23 |title=Daily Mail attacks 'extremist' Welsh place names petition |url=https://nation.cymru/news/daily-mail-attacks-extremist-welsh-place-names-petition/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref> The controversial origin of the meaning of ''Wales'', which derives from a term meaning 'foreigner', and it is stated to be an "imposed" non-Welsh name, are some of the reasons given for stopping the use of ''Wales'',<ref name="Petition Sky" /> or at least to prefer {{lang|cy|Cymru}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC – Wales – History of Wales |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/culture/sites/aboutwales/pages/history.shtml |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Proponents for such a change compare Wales's case to those of other countries which have changed their names in English-language usage, such as Ceylon to [[Sri Lanka]], Persia to [[Iran]] and, in 2022, [[Turkey]] to Türkiye.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harries |first=Robert |date=2024-01-14 |title=People want Wales to only be known as Cymru from now on |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/asked-people-wales-should-known-28445123 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, during discussions on renaming the [[National Assembly for Wales]], {{lang|cy|Senedd Cymru}} ({{translation|the Parliament of Wales}}) was considered as the body's sole potential name; however, this name was rejected by [[Member of the Senedd|Assembly Members]] in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-11-13 |title=Assembly rejects Welsh-only Senedd Cymru name |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-50405605 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Simply "Senedd" was also proposed,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=2019-11-08 |title=Renaming the Welsh assembly: 'If we can say Dáil, why not Senedd?' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/08/renaming-the-welsh-assembly-if-we-can-say-dail-why-not-senedd |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> but this was rejected by the [[First Minister of Wales|first minister]] [[Carwyn Jones]], who feared that it would not be understood.<ref name="WARename BBC">{{Cite news |date=2020-05-05 |title=Welsh assembly renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-52544137 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-09-30 |title=National Assembly set for new bilingual name instead of Welsh-only moniker |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49887160 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The parliament instead chose two names, {{lang|cy|Senedd Cymru}} and "Welsh Parliament", with "[[Senedd]]" being the shorthand name used in both English and Welsh.<ref name="WARename BBC" /> However, the legal preferred name, used in all post-2020 legislation, is {{lang|cy|Senedd Cymru}} in both languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senedd Cymru |url=https://law.gov.wales/constitution-and-government/law-making-wales/senedd-cymru |website=law.gov.wales |publisher=[[Welsh Government]]}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Football Association of Wales]] considered changing references to the national football team (both [[Wales national football team|men's]] and [[Wales women's national football team|women's]])<ref>{{Cite news |title=Wales consider Cymru name change after World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63456797 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> to use {{lang|cy|Cymru}} rather than "Wales". The association already uses the name {{lang|cy|Cymru}} in its internal and external communications.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Press Association |date=2022-10-31 |title=Wales football team consider name change after the World Cup |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wales-football-team-consider-name-25395622 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Media |first=P. A. |date=2022-10-31 |title='We are Cymru': Wales football teams could change name after World Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/31/wales-considering-change-name-to-cymru-after-world-cup-faw |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Wales considering name change to Cymru |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37633409/wales-considering-name-change-cymru-following-2022-world-cup |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> This was seen as part of the team's overall shift towards becoming more [[Welsh nationalism|Welsh nationalist]] and [[Welsh independence|pro-independence]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Worth |first=Owen |date=2022-11-18 |title=The Welsh soccer team and the growth of an 'indy-curious' Wales |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/1118/1336777-wales-cymru-independence-soccer-world-cup-sport/ |publisher=[[RTE News]] |language=en}}</ref> The association has been increasing its use of {{lang|cy|Cymru}} and Welsh words in general since [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-06 |title=Use Cymru around world instead of Wales, Plaid says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-63158987 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Calls for use as the country's sole name===
In 2024, a petition called for the prohibition of the name "Wales" and for the Welsh name {{lang|cy|Cymru}} to be the only name. The petition had gained 5,400 signatures by 4 January 2024,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Should Wales be known only as Cymru? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-67885473 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Petition Sky">{{Cite web |title=Thousands sign petition for Wales to be referred to only by Welsh language name Cymru |url=https://news.sky.com/story/thousands-sign-petition-for-wales-to-be-referred-to-only-by-welsh-language-name-cymru-13041426 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> and over 10,000 by 15 January, meeting the threshold for a Senedd debate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=Cymru not Wales – Welsh public (our readers) vote for nation name change |url=https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24048627.cymru-not-wales---welsh-public-vote-nation-name-change/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Denbighshire Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bagnall |first=Steve |date=2024-01-10 |title=Ditch Wales for Cymru petition could get Senedd debate |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ditch-wales-cymru-petition-could-28420083 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=North Wales Live |language=en}}</ref> A counter-petition was launched afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Stephen |date=2024-01-16 |title=Senedd petition to 'keep the name Wales and not waste any more taxpayers money' launched |url=https://nation.cymru/news/senedd-petition-to-keep-the-name-wales-and-not-waste-any-more-taxpayers-money-launched/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The petition follows other removals of English names in Wales in 2023, such as the [[Recommended place-names in Snowdonia|removal of the English names]] "Snowdonia" and "Snowdon" for {{lang|cy|Eryri}} and {{lang|cy|Yr Wyddfa}}, their Welsh names respectively, and the removal of "[[Brecon Beacons National Park|Brecon Beacons]]" for {{lang|cy|Bannau Brycheiniog}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Stephen |date=2024-01-05 |title=Petition calling for Wales to only be referred to as Cymru receives surge in support |url=https://nation.cymru/news/petition-calling-for-wales-to-only-be-referred-to-as-cymru-receives-surge-in-support/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>

While {{lang|cy|Cymru}} is also used by pro-independence organisations such as [[YesCymru]] and [[AUOBCymru]], it is also used by various non-political charities and organisations. The [[Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru]] is a recent example of dropping Wales for Cymru in English.