Welsh Names that Start With R
Single page list
The names
Reese
Welsh
"ardor"
The sassy, steel magnolia appeal of Oscar-winning Reese (born Laura Jeanne—Reese is her mother's maiden name) Witherspoon has single-handedly propelled this formerly boys’ name into girls'…
Rhys
Welsh
"ardor"
Rugged but gentle, Rhys is the traditional Welsh spelling of this name, which can also be anglicized as Reese or Reece. Up until 2010, Reese was the preferred spelling in the US, perhaps because…
Reese
Spelling variation of Rhys
An Anglicized spelling of the Welsh Rhys, this traditional boys' name got a big boost for girls in the early 2000s, thanks to the high-profile Ms. Witherspoon (who was actually born Laura Jeanne…
Rhiannon
Welsh
"divine queen"
Strong and outdoorsy, yet pretty and queenly, Rhiannon was a once obscure Welsh name, brought into the mainstream in 1976, following Fleetwood Mac's flash hit song of the same title. It stormed into…
Rhonda
Welsh
"noisy one"
"Help Me, Rhonda. sang the Beach Boys -- help me convince my parents not to give me this sixties name.
Rhonwen
Welsh
"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…
Romney
Welsh
"winding river"
Brings to mind the romantic and elegant eighteenth century portraits of George Romney.
Rowena
Welsh
"white spear; famous friend; fame and joy"
A fabled storybook name via the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe (1819), which featured a heroine called Rowena of Hargottstanstede, and also a Harry Potter name, as Rowena Ravenclaw,…
Rhys
Welsh
"ardor"
Less than ten percent of the babies named Rhys are girls, whereas Reese is given five times more often to girls than to boys, thanks to Ms. Witherspoon. It's a sleek and attractive name, but one that…
Rheinallt
Rheinallt is a masculine Welsh name with historical significance in Welsh culture. It derives from the Old Germanic name Reginald, which combines 'ragin' (counsel) and 'wald' (rule), meaning…
Rhisiart
Welsh from German
"brave ruler"
Welsh form of Richard.
Rhydderch
Rhydderch is a masculine Welsh name with ancient Celtic roots. It derives from the elements 'rhudd' meaning 'red' or 'crimson' and 'derch' meaning 'splendid' or 'magnificent.' Historically, it was…
Romney
Welsh
"winding river"
With the fashion for all names Rom, this strong surname with ties to Old Master painter George has new possibilities. Obviously, it now has more political associations than artistic.
Rhodri
Welsh
"wheel, circle"
Rhodri, the name of an important ninth century Welsh king known as Rhodri the Great, a renowned warrior who was the ancestor of many of the later dynasties of Wales, was revived in modern Wales. Has…
Rhian
Welsh
"maiden"
Popular in Wales, but likely to be mispronounced as Ryan here.
Rhoswen
Welsh
"white rose"
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…