55 Welsh Names

So, you’re pregnant and looking for the perfect name for your little one? Well, I may be just a tiny bit biased but I don’t think you can do much better than to pick a Welsh name for your baby. Welsh names are beautiful, unique and should definitely be added to any shortlist. Here you’ll find a selection of some of my favourite Welsh baby names including their meanings and origins.

Jump to: Welsh Names for Girls | Welsh Names for Boys

Welsh Names for the Boys (Enwau Cymraeg i’r Bechgyn)

Aled

Aled is the name of a river in Denbighshire. Aled means offspring in English.

Bleddyn

Bleddyn comes from the word “Blaidd” or Wolf in English along with the diminutive suffix, -yn. Bleddyn was the name of an 11^th Century Welsh King – Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was according to the Chronicles of the Princes all a king should be, kind generous and just.

Carwyn

Carwyn comes from the words “car” or to love in English and “Gwyn” meaning white, fair or blessed in English.

Cellan

Cellan is a village in Cardiganshire, found on the banks of the River Teifi.

Dafydd

Dafydd is Welsh for David. Sounds better too. Famous Dafydd’s include Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales (brother of Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf) and Dafydd ap Gwilym a 14^th Century Poet.

Deiniol

Deiniol is Welsh for Daniel. There was a St. Deiniol who died in 584, he was founder of the city of Bangor, Wales and the First Bishop of Gwynedd.

Dewi

Dewi is another Welsh name for David. The most famous Dewi is undoubtedly Dewi Sant (or St. David) patron saint of Wales.

Dylan

Dylan is made up of two elements, dy meaning great, and llanw meaning tide. It is a name used in one of the oldest Welsh (recorded) stories the Mabinogi. Famous Dylan’s include the poet Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan.

Eifion

Eifion is an old Welsh name which has a connection to Eifionydd which was named for the son or grandson of King Cunedda, Eifion.

Emyr

Emyr is Welsh for Emperor, King or Lord. It was also the name of a 6^th Century Saint.

Gareth

Gareth has an uncertain meaning but is first found as a Knight of the Round Table in the 15^th Century Le Morte d’Arthur, Thomas Malory’s collection of the Legends of Arthur.

Geraint

Geraint possibly comes from the old British name Gerontios, and could come from the Greek for Old Man. Geraint was another Knight of the Round Table.

Glyn

Glyn is Welsh for valley.

Guto

Guto is a shortened version of Gruffudd

Gruffudd

Gruffudd evolved from from Gripuid or Grippiud and was a popular name among Welsh royalty. Gruffudd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd, who came to be known as the King of all Wales is one of these.

Hywel

Hywel is a Welsh name which means visible, prominent, eminent. The Welsh king Hywel Dda “King of the Britons” was the first to codify traditional Welsh laws.

Ieuan

Ieuan is one of the many Welsh forms of John. Others include: Ifan, Iwan, Ioan and Siôn.

Idris

Idris (the Welsh forms of the word, there is also an Arabic form) means Ardent Lord in Welsh udd means lord or prince, while ris means ardent, enthusiastic or impulsive. There is a mountain Cadair Idris (the Chair of Idris) in North Wales, this was the seat of Idris Gawr (Idris the Giant).

Llion

Llion (can be spelt as Lleon) as a name, apparently comes from the Welsh giant and king Caerleon. Caerleon is also a town in South Wales meaning Fort of the Legionaries.

Llywelyn

Llywelyn is an ancient name coming from the old Celtic Lugobelinos. On the other hand, it could be associated with llyw the word for leader in Welsh. Some variation in the spelling starts with llew or lion. There are several Welsh princes with the name Llywelyn – the most famous being Llywelyn Fawr (the Great) and Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf (our last leader)

Llŷr

Llŷr in Celtic mythology is a God of the sea.

Osian

Osian is the Welsh form of the Irish name Oisin.

Owain

Owain is an ancient name. Found in the Mabinogi where Owain is a knight rescued by the Lady of the Fountain. Owain is also the name of Owain Glyndŵr 14^th Century Welsh hero.

Rhodri

An old Welsh name made up of the elements rhod, or wheel in English and rhi, ruler in English. Rhodri Fawr was a King of Gwynedd during the 9^th Century.

Rhys

Rhys is a Welsh name that has been used for centuries and is always popular. Meaning enthusiasm in English it is also a name that was regularly used by the rulers of Deheubarth in South West Wales.

Steffan

Steffan is the Welsh form of Stephen.

Tecwyn

Tecwyn comes from the Welsh words teg, or fair in English and gwyn, white or fair in English.

Wyn

Wyn is a short form of Gwyn meaning white in English.

Welsh Names for the Girls (Enwau Cymraeg i’r Merched)

Alaw

Alaw is Welsh for melody or tune. It is also a Welsh form of the name Lily.

Alys

Alys is a Welsh form of Alice.

Angharad

Angharad means more love. It is an Ancient name found in the Mabinogi a collection of Welsh myths.

Arianwen

Arianwen is made up from the Welsh words arian, meaning silver in English and gwen, the feminine form of gwyn, so White or fair in English. Arianwen was the name of Brychan Brycheiniog (a 5^th Century King) and went on to become a saint.

Blodeuwedd

Blodeuwedd is made up of the Welsh words blodau, flowers in English and gwedd, appearance in English. Blodeuwedd can be found in the Mabinogi she is the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes and is a woman magically created from flowers.

Cadi

Cadi is a shortened version of Catrin, which is the Welsh form of Katherine.

Celyn

Celyn is Welsh for Holly.

Ceridwen

Ceridwen supposedly comes from the Welsh words cerdd, song or poet in English, and gwen, meaning white or fair in English. Ceridwen is a Welsh Goddess or Enchantress and is said to be the mother of the poet Taliesin.

Delyth

Delyth is a modern Welsh name which comes from the Welsh word del,meaning pretty and the suffix -yth.

Dwynwen

Dwynwen was another daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog who went on to become a saint. More famous than her sister St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers and she is still celebrated today on the 25^th of January.

Eiry

Eiry is an older form of the name Eira, meaning snow.

Eleri

Eleri is again a daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, there’s also a St Eleri from a couple of centuries later. The River Eleri is also a possible origin of the name.

Elin

Elin is the Welsh form of Helen

Ffion

Ffion is Welsh for Foxglove.

Fflur

Fflur means flowers or beauty in English. The Welsh form of Flora.

Gwawr

Gwawr is the Welsh word for Dawn.

Gwenllian

Gwenllian is made up of the words gwen, white or fair, and possibly lliain, meaning flaxen or lliant, meaning flood or flow. Gwenllian was a popular name among the Welsh royals.

Haf

Haf is Welsh for Summer.

Heulwen

Heulwen is Welsh for Sunshine.

Liliwen

Liliwen is made up of the Welsh words lili and gwen, meaning White Lily.

Mair

Mair is the Welsh version of Mary. It also means much wished for child.

Medi

Medi is Welsh for September.

Megan

Megan is a Welsh form of Margaret.

Morwen

Morwen comes from the Welsh word morwyn  which means maiden in English.

Nia

Nia is the Welsh form of Niamh, meaning bright in Irish.

Non

Non has been described as coming from the word nun, I have also seen it described as from the Roman word for ninth which I’m more sceptical about. Non was the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales.

Rhianwen

Rhianwen is made up from the Welsh words rhiain, maiden in English, and gwen, white or fair.

Sioned

Sioned is Welsh for the name Janet.

Siwan

Siwan is Welsh for the name Joan.

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Nia Shaw

I’m a qualified librarian, an administrator a writer. I am Welsh in both language and nationality, despite living in England. I am a mother, a wife, a sister and a daughter. I am a bibliophile.

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• 55 Welsh Names