Cornish Baby Names
Updated Tue Mar 11 2025
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Cornish baby names are those with Celtic roots connected to the gorgeous southwest corner of England. The most notable Cornish baby name is Jennifer — the top baby name in America throughout the 1970s — which is the Cornish variation of the Welsh mythological name Guinevere.
Cornish baby names are a mix of old names, including Jennifer and Denzel, as well as brand-new word names such as Elowen (meaning "elm") and Lowen (meaning "joy"). Word names became popular in Cornwall in the late 20th century, following the revival of the Cornish language. Nature, place, and other word-inspired names now make up a large proportion of the most popular Cornish names in England.
Fashionable Cornish names you may want to consider include Elestren, Eseld, Kerensa, and Talwyn for girls, and Jago, Jory, Locryn, and Zennor for boys. View our extensive collection of Cornish names for babies, below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Perran
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"little dark one"Description:
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 part of Perranporth. This form can be pronounced as PEH-run, while Piran is said as PEER-un or PIH-run.
- Elowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"elm"Description:
A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A fresh and magical member of the fashionable El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
- Tamsin
Origin:
English, contracted form of ThomasinaMeaning:
"twin"Description:
Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes, Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan Plowright and Sir Laurence Olivier..
- Lowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Could Lowen be the next Owen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, and is rising dramatically for both boys and girls.
- Jenna
Origin:
English, diminutive of JenniferMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Jenna was first noted on the 1980s TV series Dallas, later associated with one of the First Twin Daughters. Jenna is still being used, but no longer feels much fresher than Jennifer. You can also spell it Jena, but then many people will pronounce it jeen-a, as in Gina.
- Jennifer
Origin:
Cornish variation of Welsh GuinevereMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. It has been in use in the English-speaking world since the 18th century but came to prominence in the 20th. Playwright George Bernard Shaw chose Jennifer for the name of his leading lady in his play The Doctor’s Dilemma, which drew more attention to the name.
- Endellion
Origin:
Cornish place and saint's nameMeaning:
"fire soul"Description:
Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient name was brought into modern usage by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who used it as one of the middle names for his fourth child, a baby girl.
- Morwenna
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"maiden"Description:
Morwenna is an ancient Cornish name now being revived in Wales, deriving from a Celtic word meaning "maiden", although the Mor- syllable means that it's often associated with the sea. It's been heard in the British series Doc Martin and Poldark. Morwenna Banks is a British actress.
- Ives
Origin:
English variation of YvesMeaning:
"yew wood"Description:
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
- Auryn
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"gold"Description:
An unusual name for a child with golden hair. Auron is a Welsh female name with the same meaning.
- Taran
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"thunder"Description:
Taran mac Ainftech was King of the Picts, a people who lived mainly in Scotland, in the 7th century. His name is a relative of the Celtic god of thunder Taranis, a counterpart to Thor.
- Jago
Origin:
Spanish and Cornish variation of JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jago is a dashing alternative to overused favorite Jacob.
- Nessa
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"headlands, promontory"Description:
Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.
- Demelza
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"eel house or Maeldaf's fort"Description:
A punchy modern Cornish name derived from a place name, which is of disputed origin. It is sometimes said to derive from a rare Welsh name, Maeldaf, plus dinas, the Cornish for "fort". Another theory is that it comes from Cornish ty "house" plus malsai "eel" – likely a reference to Cornwall's fishing trade.
- Tamara
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"date palm tree"Description:
Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
- Pixie
Origin:
Swedish or CornishMeaning:
"fairy"Description:
Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.
- Elestren
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"Iris"Description:
Less known than other Cornish beauties like Demelza, Elowen and Kerensa, Elestren is a pretty Cornish botanical name ripe for wider usage.
- Loveday
Origin:
Cornish, EnglishMeaning:
"beloved day"Description:
A loveday in medieval England was a day when people engaged in a dispute would come together and try to resolve their differences amicably. The name was sometimes given to babies, male or female, who were born on such a day. The etymology of Loveday is English, yet historical use was mainly relegated to Cornwall, and it is considered a traditional Cornish name. However, Loveday is rarely used today, however, when it is, it is typically used for baby girls.
- Kerensa
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"love"Description:
Kerensa, forever romantic, is a rare Cornish name spelled with an 's' or 'z', the most modern of the Karen family. Kerensa (or Kerenza) has ties to the Welsh Cerys.
- Denzel
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"from the high stronghold"Description:
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 delivered him.