Welsh Names for Babies

Possibly started life as a short form of Rhonwen, but most likely derives from the name of the Hebridean island Rona, which means "rough island".

Luc is the sleeker Gallic cousin of Luke, and if you want to know the difference between their pronunciations, just watch Kevin Kline's hilarious description in the film French Kiss. Peter Gabriel and Sean Patrick Thomas picked this version for their sons.

Designer (as in Marc Jacobs) form of Mark. An international classic, but long falling in popularity as a boys' name.

Cross-cultural winner.

Meryl is a name that's at once rare and famous, thanks to Meryl (born Mary Louise) Streep. Streep's name is an invented short form of Mary Louise, but Meryl might also be a contraction of the unique Irish name Meriel.

Tomos is the standard Welsh version of Thomas, both in the Bible and secular texts like Thomas the Tank Engine. It is an enduring classic in the Welsh charts, with diminutives including Twm and Tomi.

Meical is the Welsh form of Michael, a masculine name with Hebrew origins meaning 'Who is like God?' This question is rhetorical, implying that no one is like God. Pronounced roughly as 'MAY-cal', it represents the unique way Welsh language adapted the biblical name to suit its phonetic patterns. While Michael has been one of the most enduringly popular names across Western cultures, Meical remains relatively uncommon outside Wales, giving it a distinctive cultural resonance. The name carries strong connections to Welsh heritage and language traditions, making it particularly meaningful for families with Welsh roots. Its biblical origins combined with its Celtic form create a name that bridges ancient traditions with cultural specificity.

Ancient Irish saint's name that's unlikely, because of its similarity to "ninny," to join cousin Finian in popularity.

A Welsh diminutive of Tomos/Thomas, or just a simplified spelling of Tommy.

An alternative spelling of Tristan, and also the modern Welsh form of the legendary hero's name.

Of all the names in the Magdalene/Madeleine family, this is the most sweetly simple.

This spelling pares Will down to the bare minimum — and why not? It is also a Welsh diminutive of William / Wiliam / Gwilym.

The Welsh form of Roderick.

A surname and first name in Wales, similar to (but less familiar than) Lloyd.

A Welsh biblical name that currently doesn't chart in its homeland. If you like the sound, you might also consider spelling it (the unrelated name) Powell.

No, it's not a typo: it's William as a Welsh speaker would spell it. Gwilym is the more traditional Welsh version, though.

Powel is a masculine name with Welsh and Polish origins. In Welsh, it evolved as a variant of Powell, which itself derives from the given name Paul (from Latin 'Paulus' meaning 'small' or 'humble'). In Polish contexts, it can be a variant spelling of Paweł, the Polish form of Paul. The name has never achieved widespread popularity in English-speaking countries but maintains a steady presence in Welsh communities and areas with strong Polish heritage. Powel carries an air of distinction and tradition, often associated with lineage and family history. In the United States, it occasionally appears as a surname-turned-first-name, reflecting the trend of using family surnames as given names, though it remains relatively uncommon compared to more conventional variants like Paul or Pavel.

A pretty halfway house between the modern name Ffion, which has been popular in Wales in recent decades, and the unrelated name Fiona.