Cornish Baby Names
Updated Tue Feb 06 2024
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Cornish baby names are those with Celtic roots connected to the gorgeous southwest corner of England. The most notable Cornish baby name is Jennifer — the top baby name in America throughout the 1970s — which is the Cornish variation of the Welsh mythological name Guinevere.
Cornish baby names are a mix of old names, including Jennifer and Denzel, as well as brand-new word names such as Elowen (meaning "elm") and Lowen (meaning "joy"). Word names became popular in Cornwall in the late 20th century, following the revival of the Cornish language. Nature, place, and other word-inspired names now make up a large proportion of the most popular Cornish names in England. Fashionable Cornish names you may want to consider include Elestren, Eseld, Kerensa, and Talwyn for girls, and Jago, Jory, Locryn, and Zennor for boys. View our extensive collection of Cornish names for babies, below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Elowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"elm"Description:
A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A (currently) unique member of the fashionble El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
- Tamsin
Origin:
English, contracted form of ThomasinaMeaning:
"twin"Description:
Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes, Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan Plowright and Sir Laurence Olivier..
- Lowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Could Lowen be the next Owen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, yet fewer than 50 babies receive the name each year.
- Jenna
Origin:
English, diminutive of JenniferMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Jenna was first noted on the 1980s TV series Dallas, later associated with one of the First Twin Daughters. Jenna is still being used, but no longer feels much fresher than Jennifer. You can also spell it Jena, but then many people will pronounce it jeen-a, as in Gina.
- Jennifer
Origin:
Cornish variation of Welsh GuinevereMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. It has been in use in the English-speaking world since the 18th century but came to prominence in the 20th. Playwright George Bernard Shaw chose Jennifer for the name of his leading lady in his play The Doctor’s Dilemma, which drew more attention to the name.
- Pascoe
Origin:
Cornish variation of PascalMeaning:
"Easter"Description:
Pascoe was popular in medieval times and is definitely deserving of revival, especially for a child born in the Easter season. Other spellings are Pasco and Pascow.
- Kenan
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"possession"Description:
The biblical character Kenan was a great-grandson of Adam and a direct ancestor of Noah. As in Christianity, Kenan is honored in Islam.
- Nessa
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"headlands, promontory"Description:
Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.
- Morwenna
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"maiden"Description:
Morwenna is an ancient Cornish name now being revived in Wales, deriving from a Celtic word meaning "maiden", although the Mor- syllable means that it's often associated with the sea. It's been heard in the British series Doc Martin and Poldark. Morwenna Banks is a British actress.
- Auryn
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"gold"Description:
An unusual name for a child with golden hair. Auron is a Welsh female name with the same meaning.
- Jago
Origin:
Spanish and Cornish variation of JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jago is a dashing alternative to overused favorite Jacob.
- Ives
Origin:
English variation of YvesMeaning:
"yew wood"Description:
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
- Endellion
Origin:
Cornish place and saint's nameDescription:
Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient name was brought into modern usage by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who used it as one of the middle names for his fourth child, a baby girl.
- Denzel
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"from the high stronghold"Description:
This old Cornish name took on a whole new identity via Denzel Washington, who has inspired several thousand namesakes. The actor was named after his father, who was named for a Dr. Denzel, who delivered him.
- Tamara
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"date palm tree"Description:
Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
- Pixie
Origin:
Swedish or CornishMeaning:
"fairy"Description:
Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.
- Demelza
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"eel house or Maeldaf's fort"Description:
A punchy modern Cornish name derived from a place name, which is of disputed origin. It is sometimes said to derive from a rare Welsh name, Maeldaf, plus dinas, the Cornish for "fort". Another theory is that it comes from Cornish ty "house" plus malsai "eel" – likely a reference to Cornwall's fishing trade.
- Tamar
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"date palm tree"Description:
Tamar is a rich, strong Old Testament name sometimes given to girls born on the holiday of Sukkoth, as palm branches were used to make the roof of the sukkah. In the Bible, there are several Tamars, including a daughter of King David and also Absalom's daughter, who is praised for her 'fair countenance'.
- Kerensa
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"love"Description:
Kerensa, forever romantic, is a rare Cornish name spelled with an 's' or 'z', the most modern of the Karen family. Kerensa (or Kerenza) has ties to the Welsh Cerys.
- Meliora
Origin:
Latin, CornishMeaning:
"better; honey"Description:
Unusual and lush Roman name adopted, improbably, by the Puritans.