When I started university it was common to have an Internet “handle”. We didn’t use real names back in those days. I played around with a few names before settling on Draconid. At the time Draconid was perfect – the name of a meteor storm seen in the constellation Draco, the dragon. I was studying astrophysics and I have always been a big fan of dragons.
But as I grew older that name didn’t fit. I had left my astrophysics roots behind and was in a normal job. But as part of my job I was learning Welsh. Slowly a new idea for a name formed and I realised that Draigwen fit me perfect.
Draigwen, or more accurately y ddraig wen, is Welsh for the white dragon. Obviously this is keeping the dragon theme of earlier names, but it is the mythology behind the white dragon that gives true meaning for this new name of mine, which must have been with me for close to two decades at the time of writing.
The white dragon is the Anglo-Saxon dragon who fought the red dragon of the Welsh and was defeated. Being English by origin, I joke that I was defeated by the Welsh. While the battle may have been an internal one based on culture and history, it was certainly Wales that won the battle for my heart. The nickname being in Welsh is just another sign that Welsh has beaten English – I just wish I were better at the language!
Pan ddechreuais i yn y brifysgol roedd yn gyffredin cael “handle” Rhyngrwyd. Wnaethon ni ddim defnyddio enwau go iawn yn ôl yn y dyddiau hynny. Gwnes i trio ychydig o renwau cyn setlo ar Draconid. Ar y pryd, oedd Draconid yn berffaith – yr enw storm meteor a welir yng nghyster Draco, y ddraig. Ro’n i’n dysgu astroffiseg a dw i wastad wedi bod yn ffan mawr or ddreigiau.
Ond wrth i mi dyfu’n hŷn nid oedd yr enw hwnnw’n ffitio. Ro’n i wedi gadael fy ngwreiddiau astroffiseg ar ôl ac ro’n i’n cael swydd arferol. Ond fel rhan o fy swydd ro’n i’n dysgu Cymraeg. Yn araf ffurfiodd syniad newydd am enw a sylweddolais i fod Draigwen yn ffitio fi’n berffaith.
Draigwen, neu’n gywirach y ddraig wen. Yn amlwg mae hi’n cadw thema’r ddraig o enwau cynharach, ond chwedloniaeth yr ddraig wen sy’n rhoi gwir ystyr i’r enw newydd hwn i mi, sydd ro’n i’n cael defnyddio ers bron i ddau ddegawd ar adeg ysgrifennu hwn.
Y ddraig wen yw’r ddraig Eingl-Sacsonaidd a ymladdodd yn erbyn draig goch y Cymry ac a orchfygwyd. Dw i’n Saesnes, dw i’n cellwair fy mod i wedi fy ngorchfygu gan y Cymry. Tra bod y frwydr efallai wedi bod yn un fewnol yn seiliedig ar ddiwylliant a hanes, Cymru yn sicr enillodd y frwydr i fy nghalon. Mae’r llysenw yn Gymraeg yn arwydd arall bod y Gymraeg wedi curo’r Saesneg – hoffwn pe bawn yn well yn yr iaith!
(Translation part Google, part me as this is far too complex for my Welsh language ability – so apologies if it’s completely wrong!