Rhiannon

Strong and outdoorsy, yet pretty and queenly, Rhiannon was a once obscure Welsh name, brought into the mainstream in 1976, following Fleetwood Mac's flash hit song of the same title. It stormed into the US charts, climbing straight to #593 — and to give a better sense of just how influential the song was on the name, Rhiannon had only started appearing in the US stats in 1974, when it was given to 5 girls. By 1976, it was used 50 times more often: chosen for 272 babies.

Possibly derived from the Celtic name Rīgantonā, Rhiannon could mean "great queen" or "divine queen". In Welsh mythology, she is a strong, forthright leader, possessed of magic, intelligence, beauty, political strategy, and generosity. She faces trials and challenges after choosing her own consort, including an uncatchable horse, being accused of infanticide, and vengeance from a friend of her spurned lover.

The Welsh Rhiannon may be related to earlier Celtic goddesses, potentially Epona, a goddess of horses. Additionally, in she is considered a moon goddess in Celtic mythology, associated with rebirth, poetry, and beauty, and the owner of singing birds, who supposed wake spirits or grant sleep.

Popular in the UK and Australia in the 90s and 2000s, Rhiannon is currently more quietly used, making it a distinctive but familiar choice, similar in feel or style to Rhys, Arwen, and Ffion. Director Robert Rodriguez bestowed this sweet name on his first daughter while Jenna Dewan also hose it for her baby girl.

The Arabic Rihanna looks similar but is unrelated, deriving from Rayhana to mean "basil".

Rhiannon is also given to boys.

Pronounced ree-AN-un.

As of October 2026, Rhiannon ranked #1119 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #418 in 1977, Nameberry popularity #491.