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Welsh Names

  1. Drystan

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "sad, tumult"

    • Description:

      The Welsh form of Tristan, and the name of a counselor to King Arthur.
  2. Llywelyn

    • Origin:

      Welsh, 'leader's image'

    • Description:

      This is the original form of the ancient name also spelled Llewelyn. In ancient Wales, it was borne by two princes who for a time united their countrymen in North Wales and led opposition to the power of the Norman barons in the south. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth was the greatest of the Welsh rulers of the Middle Ages. This is a popular patriotic name, with nicknames Llelo and Llew, which is also Welsh for 'lion.'
  3. Rhonwen

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "slender, fair"

    • Description:

      The delicate and haunting Welsh Rhonwen is still a rarity in the U.S., where her English version Rowena is better known, but would be a lovely choice for any parent in search of a name that was both unusual and traditional, classically feminine yet strong.
  4. Trystan

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "noise or sorrowful"

    • Description:

      An alternative spelling of Tristan, and also the modern Welsh form of the legendary hero's name.
  5. Islwyn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "below the grove"

    • Description:

      Islwyn is the name of a mountain in Wales which has a pleasant fluid sound. Islwyn has recently been made more familiar through Runescape.
  6. Deryn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin.
  7. Taffy

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "beloved friend"

    • Description:

      A diminutive of the (male) name Dafydd, the Welsh form of David. In the US, it's strongly associated with the candy.
  8. Nesta

    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of Agnes

    • Description:

      This is the most popular Welsh form of Agnes. Variants include Annest and Nest. There was an eleventh century Nest who was known as 'Helen of Wales' for her beauty and the problems it caused.
  9. Mervyn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "sea hill"

    • Description:

      Terminally outmoded.
  10. Gwenore

    • Origin:

      Variation of Guinevere

    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"

    • Description:

      An offbeat way to get to Gwen.
  11. Rhoswen

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "white rose"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for an unusual alternative to all those Rose names, Rhoswen might be a good choice. This name has the soft sounds we've come to love from the Welsh language but is still not as familiar as Bronwen and Rhiannon.
  12. Owen

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "young warrior; well-born"

    • Description:

      Ever since singer Michelle Branch gave it to her daughter in 2005, Owen has started to be used for a small number of girls each year as well. Just 39 baby girls received the name in 2021, compared with over 8700 boys.
  13. Heulfryn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "Sunny hill"

    • Description:

      This Welsh name presents some pronunciation/spelling challenges but has a lovely sound and meaning. The name has been used in the South Korean multiplayer game Mabinogi for one of the human healer characters.
  14. Jevon

    • Origin:

      Welsh, variation of Evan

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Yet another offshoot of the original John, also sometimes used as Jevan or Yevan.
  15. Adeon

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Description:

      This name of a legendary Welsh prince could serve as a more original alternative to Adam or Aidan, though it does sound a tad chemical.
  16. Huw

    • Description:

      Huw is a traditional Welsh masculine name, representing the Welsh form of Hugh. Derived from the Germanic element "hug" meaning "heart," "mind," or "spirit," Huw carries connotations of intelligence and soulfulness. Despite its brevity, the name has a rich history in Wales, where it has been used since medieval times. The distinctive Welsh spelling with the 'w' instead of the more common 'gh' ending reflects Welsh phonetics and gives the name its authentic character. While primarily found in Wales and among Welsh diaspora communities, Huw has gained some recognition beyond these regions due to notable bearers including Welsh actors and musicians. The name combines simplicity with cultural depth, making it appealing to parents seeking a distinctively Celtic name with straightforward pronunciation.

  17. Cadell

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "battle"

    • Description:

      Cadell is a surname that is unlikely to win many supporters, except perhaps from parents looking for an alternative to Caden. But while Cadell is more distinctive, that L ending is weaker and less appealing than Caden's strong N.
  18. Arianwyn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "woman of silver"

    • Description:

      Spelling variant of Arianwen. Note that in Welsh, the -wyn suffix is usually masculine.
  19. Cadogan

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "honor in battle"

    • Description:

      This surname borne by several early Welsh leaders has a lot of energy.
  20. Bevan

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "son of Evan"

    • Description:

      This Welsh surname might be an interesting alternative to the popular Evan, though that Bev beginning conjures up a fifty-five-year-old woman named Beverly.