Taliesin
About Taliesin
Poetic and handsome with a hint of mystique and magic around it, this rugged Welsh name may appeal as an alternative to Tristan or Taran.
Meaning "shining, radiant brow", the name is associated with a semi-legendary 6th century Welsh poet. The author of the Book of Taliesin, he also appears in a 16th century medieval legend, in which he is reborn as a servant, who goes on to defend the kingdom.
In some variations and rewritings of Arthurian legend, Taliesin is the father of the wizard Merlin, while in others, he is Merlin's father, or used as a stand in for Merlin himself.
Pronounced as pronounced as tal-ee-EHS-in in English, but tal-YEH-sin in Welsh, this name might appeal to architect parents wishing to honor Frank Lloyd Wright, who called his two famous residences Taliesin and Taliesin West.
Given to 10 boys in the UK in a recent year, a notable bearer is actor Taliesin Jaffe.
Pronounced tuh-LY-sin.
As of October 2026, Taliesin ranked #7624 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #4480 in 2021.
Editor's take: The name Taliesin is a boy's name of Welsh origin meaning "shining brow".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | #4,480 | 23 | 13.1 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Taliesin.
- Gawain
- Corentin
- Elessar
- Berian
- Elwyn
- Aurelien
- Selwyn
- Caradoc
- Trevelyan
- Sylvain
- Cador
- Leoric
- Solvi
- Cassander
- Faolan
- Voitto
- Emilian
- Sulien
- Reijo
- Solimar
Taliesin on lists
Famous Taliesins
- Taliesin Ben Beirdd
6th century, a renowned Welsh poet of the Middle Ages
- Taliesin Jaffe
voice actor and director
- Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche
one of two men stabbed to death after stepping in to defend two young women from anti,Muslim harassment on a Portland train in May 2017
- Taliesin Williams
1787–1847, son of the literary forger Iolo Morganwg
Taliesin in pop culture
- Taliesin
the first name of the character in the Arthurian legend that was more commonly known as "Merlin."