Welsh Names

By Meisch · Updated May 2023

Names64

Pages4

Total Names64

Across 4 pages

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About this list

This list includes both ancient and modern Welsh names. Many Welsh names end with the suffix -wen, which means "white, fair, or blessed," so the meanings of these names include one of these, although in many cases the -wen was added as an elaboration only.

The names

Showing 1–20 of 64

Rhys
Welsh
"ardor"
Rugged but gentle, Rhys is the traditional Welsh spelling of this name, which can also be anglicized as Reese or Reece. Up until 2010, Reese was the preferred spelling in the US, perhaps because…
Rhiannon
Welsh
"divine queen"
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…
Arwen
Literature, Sindarin, Welsh
"noble maiden; fair, blessed"
Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings , Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of…
Eira
Welsh
"snow"
This Welsh nature name that can be pronounced exactly like the male Ira. Or, to avoid confusion, you could just name her Snow.
Emyr
Welsh
"king"
Emyr is a name that is well-known in Wales, but little heard outside of it. There are several well-known Emyrs, from the famed Welsh novelist and poet Emyr Humphries to footballer Emyr Huws.…
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…
Aeron
Welsh
"berries; battle, slaughter"
Aeron is the name of a river in modern-day Wales, that possibly takes its name from a Celtic war goddess (Agrona). Alternatively, it could come from the word aeron meaning "berries, fruits, plum,…
Auryn
Celtic
"gold"
An unusual name for a child with golden hair. Auron is a Welsh female name with the same meaning.
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.
Morwenna
Welsh
"maiden"
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…
Nimue
Celtic Mythology (one of the names of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legends)
Nimue (Lady of the Lake) is the ruler of Avalon in the Arthurian legend. Nimue plays a pivotal role in many stories, including giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising…
Eigra
Welsh
"maid"
Eigra is a name with a great mythological and literary past - it is the Welsh version of Igraine/Ygraine, who was the mother of King Arthur.
Tanwen
Welsh
"holy fire"
Tanwen is a far more singular and colorful alternative to Bronwen.
Eirian
Welsh
"silver, bright, brilliant, snow"
A modern, unisex Welsh name with a shiny feel, Eirian can mean "silver" (from Welsh arian ) or "snow, brilliant, bright" (from eira ). It may appeal to those who like rising star Eira, but want…
Glyn
Welsh
"valley, glen"
Very popular in Wales; this could make a nice middle name in honor of a Grandpa Glenn.
Rhoswen
Welsh
"white rose"
If you're looking for an unusual alternative to all those Rose names, Rhoswen might be a good choice. This name has the soft sounds we've come to love from the Welsh language but is still not as…
Bran
Diminutive of Brandon
"broom-covered hill"
A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven. It's probably not a coincidence that George R.R. Martin chose this…
Tegwen
Welsh
"fair, white, blessed, beautiful"
Tegwen is a Welsh name that balances between clunky and mystical, sweet and tough. Created back in the 19th century by blending the element teg "beautiful, pretty", with the element wen "fair, white,…
Madoc
Welsh
"fortunate, benefactor's son"
Also spelled Madog, which was the name of an early Welshman, Madog ap Owain Gwynedd, reputed to have been the first European to discover North America in 1155. Maddox, the name of Angelina Jolie and…
Rhonwen
Welsh
"slender, fair"
The delicate and haunting Welsh Rhonwen is still a rarity in the U.S., where her English version Rowena is better known, but would be a lovely choice for any parent in search of a name that was both…

Welsh Names

About this list

The names

Rhys

Rhiannon

Arwen

Eira

Emyr

Taliesin

Aeron

Auryn

Anwen

Morwenna

Nimue

Eigra

Tanwen

Eirian

Glyn

Rhoswen

Bran

Tegwen

Madoc

Rhonwen