Arianrhod

Fleetwood Mac introduced the world to Rhiannon, but Arianrhod is a lesser-known woman of Welsh legend. Strap in, this is a name story!

In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, a medieval tale, she gives birth to the protagonist Lleu Llaw Gyffes and places a curse on him that he will never have a name or weapons unless she himself gives them to him. Later she is tricked into doing so.

The meaning of her name has led some to speculate that she may have a connection to the moon in the distant past, though there is no firm evidence.

Her home in the tale, Caer Aranrhod (showing an alternative spelling), is nowadays a rock off the coast of north-west Wales that is visible at low tide.

Pronounced ar-ee-AHN-rod.