Names That are Uniquely Popular in Wales
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Macsen
Welsh variation of Maximus, Latin
"greatest"
Macsen may sound like a modern invention, cousin to Jackson and Maxon, but it's a longtime Welsh variation of Maximus with evocative roots in legend. Macsen Wledig is another name for the Roman…
Noa
Hebrew
"rest, repose; motion"
Okay, this might be a little confusing... There is a female figure in the Old Testament named Noa or Noah, whose name derives from the Hebrew No'ah, meaning "motion". The popular Biblical male name…
Osian
Welsh variation of Oisin, Irish
"little deer"
Osian is the easier-to-comprehend version of the ancient Irish Oisin, an important name in mythology. Osian or Oisin was a warrior poet. Osian is popular in modern Wales and England. While Oisin is…
Tomi
Japanese; Nigerian; Welsh variation of Thomas
"wealth; twin"
A Welsh diminutive of Tomos/Thomas, or just a simplified spelling of Tommy. In Japan and Nigerian, Tomi is a unisex name.
Tomos
Welsh form of Thomas, Aramaic
"twin"
Tomos is the standard Welsh version of Thomas, both in the Bible and secular texts like Thomas the Tank Engine. It is an enduring classic in the Welsh charts, with diminutives including Twm and Tomi.…
Anwen
Welsh
"very fair, beautiful"
Anwen is one of the simplest and best of the classic Welsh girls' names, more unusual than Bronwen but with the same serene feel.
Marnie
English
"of the sea"
A retro short form of Marina, dated to the era of the Hitchcock movie that made it famous, Marnie is beginning to feel fresh again — or rather, it is in the UK. Appearing in the Top 100 there in a…
Pippa
English, diminutive of Philippa
"lover of horses"
Pippa, a peppy condensation of Philippa that turns it from serious to sprightly, has come into the public eye in a big way via the former Kate Middleton's sister. Pippa can and is given as a name in…
Lowri
Welsh, from Latin
"laurel"
This unusual and appealing form of Laura is popular in sections of Wales.
Esmae
English variation of Esme, French
"beloved"
Phonetic spelling of Esme, popular in the UK.
Elsi
Elsi is a charming feminine name with Scandinavian and Scottish roots, functioning as a diminutive of Elizabeth or Elspeth. The name carries the meaning "pledged to God" from its Hebrew origins. Elsi…
Ifan
Ifan is a masculine Welsh name that serves as a Welsh variation of John, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' Pronounced roughly as 'IV-an,' it has been used…
Cai
Cai is a name with rich multicultural origins. In Welsh, it means 'rejoice' and is a form of the Arthurian knight Sir Kay. In Chinese, Cai (蔡) is a respected surname and can also be a given name…
Gwenno
Welsh
"little bright one"
Gwenno originated as a diminutive of Gwenllian, Gwynhwyfar or Gwendolen, but it is increasingly being bestowed as a full name, with between 10 and 20 births a year in England & Wales. Musician…
Hafren
Welsh river name
The modern Welsh name for the River Severn, the longest river in Britain, which partly forms the border between England and Wales. Both Severn and Hafren come from the ancient British name Sabrina.
Nedw
Welsh diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
A Welsh short form of Edward with a playful sound and distinctive, rugged look. It appears in the title of a Welsh language book, written by E. Tesla Davies, and tells the story of a Nedw's childhood…
Gwenlli
Diminutive form of Gwenllian, Welsh
"white, flaxen"
Used almost exclusively in its native Wales, Gwenlli is a sweet but substantial short form of Gwenllian. The longform was borne by a medieval Welsh princess, known for her bravery and resistance…
Taliesin
Welsh
"shining brow"
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…
Eifion
Welsh
Similar in sound to Avon, Avery, Aidan, Eirian, and Teifion, this Welsh name is the source of an area in the north-west of Wales called Eifionydd (ay-vyawn-ith). An ancient Welsh name, the exact…
Alys
Welsh form of Alice, German
"noble"
Popular in Wales, familiar across the UK, and ultimately derived from the Germanic Adalheidis, this isn't a creative respelling of a classic, but the Welsh variant of it.