Cornish Names for Boys

Denzel

Cornish

"from the high stronghold"

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…

Lowen

Cornish

"joy"

Could Lowen be the next Owen, Rowen, and Cohen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, and is rising dramatically for both boys and girls. About 80 baby boys were…

Keyne

Cornish variation of Kane

"man of the eastern sky"

This name is unusual enough that the spelling variation won't be too much of a further complication. While the Biblical cognate Cain may be more classic, this removes the name from any negative…

Kea

Cornish, from Caius, Latin

"rejoice"

This name of an ancient saint and one of the first knights of King Arthur's Round Table has a modern, if feminine, feel.

Kitto

Cornish, diminutive of Christopher, Greek and Latin

"bearer of Christ"

Kitto updates Dad Name Christopher with a trendy o-ending short form. Use it as an honor name or an original nickname.

Pascoe

Cornish variation of Pascal

"Easter"

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.

Rumo

Cornish

"red"

Ancient martyr name that sounds totally modern, but perhaps too close to rumor.

Silyen

Silyen is an uncommon masculine name with mysterious origins. This rare name may have roots in various linguistic traditions, possibly derived from Latin, French, or constructed from modern naming…

Mirren

Scottish

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish…

Mirin

Irish and Scottish, meaning unknown

The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn,…

Penrose

Cornish and Welsh place name and surname

"top of the heath"

Penrose – an ancient locational surname derived from several villages in Cornwall, Wales, and the Welsh border country of England – might work as a first name, although the "Rose" syllable might lead…

Keverne

Cornish saint and place name

St. Keverne is a town on Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula and also the name of an ancient saint. While the name is virtually unused for children in the modern world, it could be a Kevin update and has…

Elvan

Turkish, Cornish

"colors; light; spark"

A multicultural choice with a mystical feel, Elvan is both a Turkish name meaning "colors" (or sometimes "colorful hands"), and a Cornish name, likely derived from Elwen and Elouan to mean "light".…

Perran

Cornish

"little dark one"

Also spelled as Piran, this Cornish saint's name is thought to have derived from the Irish Ciaran. Borne by a 5th-century monk who founded a monastery, it also appears as a place name in Cornwall, as…

Arvor

Breton, Cornish

"forest, woodland; coast, coastland"

Arvor is an intriguing choice with two possible meanings. From Celtic and Breton, it means "woodland, forest, trees" and may be a cognate of Arbor from Cornish, however, it translates to "coast" or…

Lanyon

English, Cornish, Bretton

"enclosure of Lon; Parish of Huon"

A surname style choice that likely originated from a place in Cornwall, the exact etymology of the name is unknown, though "enclosure of Lon" or "farmstead of Lon" have been suggested, Lon referring…

Sevi

Cornish

"strawberries"

Zippy and cool, Sevi is a rare Cornish name meaning "strawberries", though it could be used as a nickname for names containing the letters sev too.

Lowin

Variation of Lowen or Lohan, or Modern Invention

"happy; light; friend of the wolf"

Lowin could be viewed in a number of ways, firstly, as a spelling variation of Lowen, a rising choice in England and Wales, France, and the Netherlands, possibly derived from the Cornish lowen…

Jago

Cornish variation of Jacob or James

"supplanter"

A dashing alternative to the popular James and Jacob, Jago is the jaunty Cornish form of the Biblical names. Occasionally (or historically) appearing as Jagoe, Jego, and Jaego, it may have been…