Cute Welsh Names

Welsh is known in some circles as a "keysmashing" language, but Welsh baby names have been on my radar for ages and it's time they got noticed.
  1. Rhys
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  2. 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.
  3. Carys
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  4. Macsen
    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of Maximus, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "greatest"
    • Description:

      Macsen may sound like a modern invention, cousin to Jackson and Maxon, but it's a longtime Welsh variation of Maximus with evocative roots in legend. Macsen Wledig is another name for the Roman emperor Magnus Maximus, was played an important role in Welsh history and was further immortalized in a poem celebrating his dream about his lover Elen. Macsen also appears in Arthurian legend.
  5. Auryn
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "gold"
    • Description:

      An unusual name for a child with golden hair. Auron is a Welsh female name with the same meaning.
  6. Ceridwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful as a poem"
    • Description:

      Celtic goddess of poetry, though less-than-poetic name.
  7. Tegan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "darling, pretty"
    • Description:

      Tailored Tegan is a Welsh name, developed from the element teg meaning "beautiful, pretty". Sweet but tough, is interpreted to mean "darling, or favorite", and is also the Welsh word for toy.
  8. Arianell
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "silver"
    • Description:

      This early Welsh saint's name is unusual and lovely, waiting to be discovered. Saint Arianell was a member of the Welsh royal family who was possessed by a spirit which was exorcised by Saint Dyfrig, who became Arianell's spiritual teacher.
  9. Cadogan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "honor in battle"
    • Description:

      This surname borne by several early Welsh leaders has a lot of energy.
  10. Davies
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "son of David"
    • Description:

      This is a both fresher and cooler spin on David.
  11. Taliesin
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "shining brow"
    • Description:

      Taliesin is a name an architecture-minded parent could love, because of its close association with Frank Lloyd Wright.
  12. Crichton
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "from the hilltop town"
    • Description:

      This surname name may offer a pronunciation challenge, to those unfamiliar with Michael Crichton novels, but its fresher than Hunter or Cooper.