Gwenllian

While it may look like it to those unfamiliar, Gwenllian is not a blend of Gwendolyn and Lillian!

It is in fact a Welsh name, borne by a medieval Welsh princess noted for her bravery and beauty. Sometimes referred to as the Welsh Bouddica, Gwenllian resisted invasion by English and Norman forces and is a national heroine of Wales. It was given to nearly 30 girls in the UK in 2023 which made it the second most popular Gwen- name in the UK and a Top 100 choice in Wales. In a more recent count, it was given to 17 girls.

Diminutive of the name include Llio and Gwenli, both of which are used, albeit quietly, as standalone names.

The pronunciation is difficult to translate into English, as the Ll sound is exclusively Welsh, however a rough estimation is gwehn-SHEE-an, the double L being somewhere between the L in please and the Sh sound. You might also see it described as gwehn-HLEE-an or gwehn-THLEE-an, though it's probably easiest to listen to it.

Pronounced gwen-LYAHN.