September 2014
- Ellis
Origin:
English surname derived from Elijah or Elias or WelshMeaning:
"benevolent"Description:
Ellis is a former Old Man Name turned gender-neutral choice for the 21st century. It's one of the less used names in the currently popular El-family.
- Rhys
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"ardor"Description:
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 parents were concerned about mispronunciation. However, Rhys has since taken over for boys and is now used twice as often as Reese.
- Emrys
Origin:
Welsh, variation of AmbroseMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
If you're looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin. It's currently in the Welsh top 100 and in the England and Wales top 1000 over all and has been rising in recent years.
- Madeline
Origin:
English variation of MagdalenMeaning:
"high tower or woman from Magdala"Description:
Madeline, a lovely name with a soft and delicate image, is an old-fashioned favorite that returned to favor in the 1990s, combining a classic pedigree with a cute nickname option: Maddie.
- Seren
Origin:
Welsh, TurkishMeaning:
"star or sail mast"Description:
Seren is a top girls' name in Wales – and a lovely choice almost unknown elsewhere. Seren, in the Sirona form, was an ancient goddess of the hot springs.
- Meredith
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"great ruler"Description:
Meredith is a soft, gentle-sounding name with subtle Welsh roots. Although originally a boys’ name , Meredith is used mainly for girls now.
- Carys
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"love"Description:
Light, pretty and distinctive in appearance, Carys is one of that sweet group of girl names with a loving meaning. A relatively modern name, it didn't come into use in its native Wales until the late nineteenth century, and even then, it wasn't a mainstream choice until the middle of the twentieth century.
- Shannon
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"old and wise"Description:
Irish place-name -- it's a river, a town, and an airport -- once popular but now supplanted by such newer immigrants as Saoirse and Seanan.
- Bryn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"hill"Description:
The simple and attractive Bryn is well used for boys in Wales, and does have a history as a male name in the US, although both Bryn and Brynn are currently far more popular for girls.
- Mair
Origin:
Welsh form of MaryDescription:
One of the many international versions of Mary that could make an unusual alternative. The similar sound to Maya/Maia could be a plus or a minus.
- Mairwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed Mary"Description:
A sweet Marian name consisting of Mair, the Welsh form of Mary, and gwen, meaning "blessed, white".
- Iolyn
Description:
Iolyn is an uncommon masculine name with Welsh origins. It likely derives from Welsh elements, possibly related to 'ior' meaning 'lord' or 'iol' meaning 'fertile upland.' This rare name carries a melodic quality characteristic of Welsh naming traditions, with their emphasis on flowing vowel sounds. Iolyn has remained extremely uncommon even in Wales and has limited usage internationally. The name possesses a mystical, ancient quality that evokes Celtic traditions and landscapes. For parents seeking a distinctive name with authentic Welsh roots, Iolyn offers a melodious choice that's unlikely to be shared with others while still being relatively straightforward to pronounce.
- Aeronwyn
- Braith
- Celyn
- Ceridwyn
- Rhydian