Francophile Naming Guide -- Breton Names for Boys

  1. Evan
    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Evan has a mellow nice-guy image that has kept it popular, while it has been widely used in Wales since the nineteenth century. And interestingly—and surprisingly—enough, Evan charts highly for boys in France.
  2. Ronan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little seal"
    • Description:

      Ronan is the compelling legendary name of twelve Irish and Scottish saints that is now drawing some deserved attention; this cousin of the ascending Roman and Rowan was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller in 1998, and more recently by actress Catherine Bell.
  3. Tristan
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "noise or sorrowful"
    • Description:

      Tristan -- known through medieval legend and Wagnerian opera -- has a slightly wistful, touching air. This, combined with the name's popular "an" ending, makes Tristan very appealing to parents seeking a more original alternative to Christian.
  4. Abel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "breath"
    • Description:

      Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing.
  5. Rio
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "river; place of the cherry blossoms"
    • Description:

      Rio is a reductive ranchero place-name with an attractive Tex-Mex lilt. No Doubt's Tom Dumont has a son named Rio Atticus.
  6. Alan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "handsome, cheerful"
    • Description:

      In its three most popular spellings -- Alan along with Allen and Allan -- this midcentury favorite has tended to skew older. It was a Top 100 name from 1938 to 1971, peaking at Number 40 in 1951. Alan has had leading roles on recent TV, in shows like Two and a Half Men, 24 and Boston Legal.
  7. Morgan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "sea-born, sea-song or sea-circle"
    • Description:

      Morgan, once split evenly between the sexes, is a strong and attractive Welsh favorite, still a common boys’ name in Wales. Morgan is now more often a girls' name in the U.S. – about 2000 girls were given the name in one recent year, vs. 362 boys – though it's one of the most traditional unisex choices. Morgan was actually a Top 200 pick for boys in Victorian Britain!
  8. Gael
    • Origin:

      Breton
    • Meaning:

      "Gaelic"
    • Description:

      This cross-cultural name, found in Wales, Brittany, and Spain, is a surprise star in the U.S in recent years, largely thanks to actor Gael Garcia Bernal. Also written as Gaël, it's a popular choice across Spain, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and France, and the US.
  9. Mael
    • Origin:

      French or Breton
    • Meaning:

      "chief or prince"
    • Description:

      The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the pronunciation is almost like the English word mile, with two distinctive syllables.
  10. Steven
    • Origin:

      English variation of Stephen
    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"
    • Description:

      Steven, the phonetic and now predominant spelling of the classier Stephen, has finally dropped out of the Top 100 after seventy years. Steve has become one of the ultimate regular-guy names, right up there with Dave and Joe. and there have been innumerable pop-culture role models among its bearers--from Steven Spielberg to Steven Soderbergh to Steve Jobs.
  11. Corentin
    • Origin:

      French, Breton
    • Meaning:

      "tempest, hurricane"
    • Description:

      Corentin is an intriguing saint's name fashionable in France but virtually unknown here-- which you may consider a big plus. St. Corentin possessed a magical fish that regenerated itself each night, feeding himself and his lucky visitors in perpetuity.
  12. Alban
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white, or, man from Alba"
    • Description:

      An ancient and highly unusual name; St. Alban -- sometimes also called Albinus or Aubin -- was an early martyr in Roman Britain. Using an alternate spelling, Alben Barkley was the 35th U.S. Vice-President, serving under Harry Truman. And Albin is popular in modern Sweden. But only the form Alban has the alternate meaning "from Alba".
  13. Stefan
    • Origin:

      German, Scandinavian, Polish, and Russian variation of Stephen
    • Description:

      An elegant, continental name for the post-Steve era. It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 1949 and has been on the list every year since except for a year off in 2008.
  14. Malo
    • Origin:

      Breton
    • Meaning:

      "shining hostage"
    • Description:

      Malo, the name of an important sixth century Breton saint who founded St. Malo, the charming port town in Brittany -- is considered quite au courant in France right now, ranking firmly in the Top 100.
  15. Von
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "hope"
    • Description:

      One of those midcentury shortenings that are starting to sound cool again, though we prefer Van.
  16. Even
    • Origin:

      Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "gift or winner"
    • Description:

      Even is a popular boys' name in Norway, derived from the Old Norse Eivindr. Another popular variation is Eivind, which is pronounced like Ivan.
  17. Job
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "persecuted"
    • Description:

      A rare and single syllable Biblical name with a hint of Jude, Jonah, Jacob, and Joseph about it, Job is a weighty choice that may appeal to those who enjoy both heavily Biblical names and short, snappy choices. Given to 61 boys in the US in a recent year, it is a quietly but not totally unheard of option.
  18. Gregor
    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Gregory
    • Meaning:

      "vigilant, a watchman"
    • Description:

      Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And then there's Gregor Clegane, one of the most feared and purely evil characters in the world of Game of Thrones.
  19. Jud
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Judson, English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Jordan"
    • Description:

      More commonly spelled JUDD, this is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own.
  20. Iwan
    • Description:

      Iwan is a masculine name that serves as the Welsh, Polish, and Belarusian variant of John, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' This version maintains the original name's spiritual significance while offering a distinctive cultural flavor. Pronounced roughly as 'EE-vahn' (though this varies by culture), Iwan has been used for centuries across different parts of Europe. In Wales, it represents one of the traditional forms of John, while in Eastern European contexts it stands as a respected traditional name with deep historical roots. Though not frequently encountered in English-speaking countries outside of Welsh communities, Iwan offers a strong yet accessible option for parents seeking an international variation of a classic name with religious significance.

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