By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
Welsh
"silver, bright, brilliant, snow"
A modern, unisex Welsh name with a shiny feel, Eirian can mean "silver" (from Welsh arian ) or "snow, brilliant, bright" (from eira ). It may appeal to those who like rising star Eira, but want…
Edwynne is an uncommon feminine name that represents an elaborated feminine form of Edwin, an Anglo-Saxon name combining 'ead' (wealth, fortune) and 'wine' (friend), thus meaning 'wealthy friend' or…
Edwynna is a feminine name derived from the Old English name Edwin, which combines 'ead' meaning 'wealth, fortune' and 'wine' meaning 'friend.' The feminine suffix '-na' transforms the traditionally…
"wave"
St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her feast day on January 25 is the equivalent of Valentine's day in Wales. The short form Dwyn may be more manageable for the non-Welsh.
"my fine one; my woman; my beloved"
A lyrical Welsh name with both poetry and ruggedness, Myfanwy can mean "my fine, delicate one", "my woman", or "my beloved", depending on whether you consider the second element as derived from manwy…
"chief, lady"
A sweet yet substantial name of Welsh origin, Nerys has the fresh feel of Carys, but the vintage charm of Mavis, Morag, and Lois. Likely borrowing from the Welsh element nêr meaning "lord, chief",…
"new pond"
Male name that seems feminine enough to switch genders, if you're looking for a new lyn spin.
"shining, holy"
Nolwenn is popular in Wales but would be a very adventurous choice in the US. Though with the increased visibility of names like Arwen, thanks to Lord of the Rings , it may not feel as odd going…
"nun"
The legendary St. Non was the mother of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. David was raised in a convent by his mother and went on to become a great teacher and bishop. Non is also known as Nonna…
The spelling makes the tradition Non even more of a non-name.
"white footprint"
Olwen is a Welsh favorite, the name of a legendary princess in what is believed to have been the earliest Arthurian romance, and in fact one of the first recorded examples of Welsh prose. In this…
Olwyn is a popular Welsh name that might be an alternative to the more familiar Bronwen or Rhonwen -- though in Wales the female form is usually spelled -wen and the male one -wyn.
Diminutive of Dwynwen
Short, but still kind of a mouthful.
"genuine, steadfast, true"
Common in Wales, but would really stand out here. One of the middle names of Stella McCartney's daughter Reiley; Dilys Powell was a well-known British film critic, Professor Dilys Derwent a Harry…
"bird"
This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin.
"maiden"
Popular in Wales, but likely to be mispronounced as Ryan here.
"pretty and blessed"
If you like soft, lispy Welsh names like Gwyneth, or want an alternative to Delilah, Adele, or Edith, consider this out-of-the-ordinary option.
"beloved friend"
A diminutive of the (male) name Dafydd, the Welsh form of David. In the US, it's strongly associated with the candy.
"slender, fair"
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…
"winding river"
Brings to mind the romantic and elegant eighteenth century portraits of George Romney.
