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September 2014

Aili_Helen_Daniels
By Aili_Helen_Daniels
Updated Thu Jan 01 1970
This list lays out the names I am loving this month. Both boys and girls. Almost all of them are Welsh this month, I live in the U.S. but I absolutely love these names!
  1. Aeronwyn
    • Bryn

      • Origin:

        Welsh

      • Meaning:

        "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.
    • Braith
      • Carys

        • Origin:

          Welsh

        • Meaning:

          "love"

        • Description:

          Familiar in Wales and England, this name was introduced to America when Welsh-born Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas chose it for their daughter in 2003. Light, pretty, and distinctive in appearance, it didn't catch on in the US, where it was only given to 22 girls in 2023.
      • Celyn
        • Ceridwyn
          • Ellis

            • Origin:

              English surname derived from Elijah or Elias or Welsh

            • Meaning:

              "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.
          • Emrys

            • Origin:

              Welsh, variation of Ambrose

            • Meaning:

              "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.

              Root name Ambrose is an ancient saints' name derived from the Greek ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods that conferred immortality, giving it a magical feel. Parents today may also associate it with the BBC show Merlin which notably used the name as an alternative name for the warlock.
          • 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.

          • Madeline

            • Origin:

              English variation of Magdalen

            • Meaning:

              "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.
          • Mair

            • Origin:

              Welsh form of Mary

            • Description:

              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:

              Welsh

            • Meaning:

              "blessed Mary"

            • Description:

              A sweet Marian name consisting of Mair, the Welsh form of Mary, and gwen, meaning "blessed, white".
          • Meredith

            • Origin:

              Welsh

            • Meaning:

              "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.
          • Rhys

            • Origin:

              Welsh

            • Meaning:

              "ardor"

            • Description:

              There's Rhys and there's Reese (now more popular for girls) and there's Reece, and we particularly like the traditional Welsh spelling, which entered the list in 2004, possibly influenced by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, of The Tudors, and Welsh-born actor Rhys Ifans.
          • Rhydian
            • Seren

              • Origin:

                Welsh, Turkish

              • Meaning:

                "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.
            • Shannon

              • Origin:

                Irish

              • Meaning:

                "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.