Welsh names such as Angharad (“much loved”), Carys, Seren (“star”), Rhys, Dafydd and Taliesin (“shining brow”) come from Old Welsh, medieval legend and everyday Welsh words, and this list gives a checked meaning for 145 of them.
Welsh names mix the names of medieval princes, saints and poets with characters from the Mabinogi, Welsh forms of familiar names such as Siân and Siôn, and modern names made from Welsh words for snow, stars and summer. Some already sound familiar in English, such as Dylan, Megan and Owen, and others are rare finds.
We grouped the names into classic and modern girl names, classic boy names, names from Welsh mythology, nature names, Welsh and Anglicized forms, short names and unisex names. Then come notes on the Welsh language, family naming, spelling and pronunciation, plus pairing ideas for siblings and middle names.
Key Takeaways
- Angharad means much loved and Carys comes from caru, love; both appear on the Welsh Government’s list of Welsh names for children.
- The Welsh element gwen, white or blessed, appears in many girl names, such as Gwenllian, Ceinwen, Branwen and Olwen.
- Rhiannon, Branwen, Pryderi and Taliesin come from medieval Welsh tales such as the Mabinogi.
- Many modern Welsh names are Welsh words: Seren means star, Eira snow, Haf summer and Heulwen sunshine.
- In older Welsh records, ap or ab means son of and ferch or verch means daughter of.
Table of Contents
Welsh Names at a Glance
Quick Answer
Every gender, usage label and meaning on this page was checked against the name’s own entry on Behind the Name in October 2026, and each name is spelled, accents included, exactly as the entry spells it. Where an entry says a meaning is uncertain or unknown, we say so. Names we could not verify this way are not on the list.
Welsh names come from several layers of history. Some are very old, built from Old Welsh words for battle, lords and kings, and carried by medieval princes and poets. Some come from the medieval tales of the Mabinogi and from Arthurian legend. Many are Welsh forms of names shared across Europe, such as Siân for Jane and Dafydd for David. And a large, lovely group was created from everyday Welsh words in the 19th and 20th centuries: Seren (“star”), Eira (“snow”), Haf (“summer”) and Heulwen (“sunshine”).
One small Welsh word appears again and again: gwen, the feminine form of gwyn, which Behind the Name translates as “white, blessed”. It sits inside Gwenllian, Ceinwen, Branwen, Olwen, Tegwen and dozens of others, so once you know it you can read a surprising number of these names yourself.
How to read the tables: the gender column shows the gender each entry lists, and the usage column shows the entry’s own usage labels (Welsh, Welsh (Rare), Welsh Mythology, and sometimes English or other languages too). When an entry only describes a name as a form of another name, the meaning shown is the meaning of that original name, taken from its own entry. If you are also exploring other Celtic-language names, our Irish girl names and Scottish girl names lists use the same checked approach.
Classic Welsh Girl Names and Their Meanings
These are the names of Welsh princesses, saints and poets, plus the Welsh-born names that spread across the English-speaking world. Many have the vintage feel that parents in the U.S. are drawn to, and they sit comfortably beside the names on our old-fashioned girl names list.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angharad | Feminine | Welsh, Old Welsh (Modernized), Welsh Mythology | “Much loved”, from the intensive prefix an- and a mutated form of caru, “to love”; Angharad Golden-Hand appears in the medieval Welsh romance Peredur son of Efrawg |
| Gwenllian | Feminine | Welsh | From gwen, “white, blessed”, and possibly lliain, “flaxen, made of linen”, or lliant, “flow, flood”; borne by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth |
| Nest | Feminine | Welsh | Medieval Welsh diminutive of Agnes, from Greek hagnos, “chaste” |
| Myfanwy | Feminine | Welsh | From my-, “my”, and either manwy, “fine, delicate”, or banwy, “woman”; the title of an 1875 Welsh song by Joseph Parry |
| Gladys | Feminine | Welsh, English, French, Spanish | From the Old Welsh name Gwladus, probably from gwlad, “country” (or possibly a Welsh form of Claudia); Saint Gwladus was the mother of Saint Cadoc |
| Eluned | Feminine | Welsh | From Welsh eilun, “image, likeness, idol”; the name of a legendary 5th-century Welsh saint |
| Heledd | Feminine | Welsh | Meaning unknown; the narrator of the medieval poem Canu Heledd |
| Lleucu | Feminine | Welsh | Meaning unknown, possibly derived from Lleu; it appears in the 14th-century poem Marwnad Lleucu Llwyd |
| Ceinwen | Feminine | Welsh | From cain, “good, lovely”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; a 5th-century Welsh saint |
| Arianwen | Feminine | Welsh | From arian, “silver”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; a 5th-century Welsh saint |
| Gwenfrewi | Feminine | Welsh (Rare) | From gwen, “white, blessed”, and an element of uncertain meaning; the Welsh name for Saint Winifred |
| Winifred | Feminine | English, Welsh | From Latin Winifreda, possibly from the Welsh name Gwenfrewi; Saint Winifred was a 7th-century Welsh martyr, probably legendary |
| Tydfil | Feminine | Welsh | Anglicized form of Tudful, of unknown meaning; a probably legendary saint connected with the town of Merthyr Tydfil |
| Non | Feminine | Welsh | Possibly from Latin nonna, “nun”; by tradition the mother of Saint David |
| Gwendolen | Feminine | Welsh | Possibly “white ring”, from gwen, “white, blessed”, and dolen, “ring, loop” |
| Gwyneth | Feminine | Welsh, English | Probably a variant of Gwynedd, the name of a medieval kingdom in northern Wales; common in Wales since the 19th century |
| Bronwen | Feminine | Welsh | Seemingly from bron, “breast”, and gwen, “white, blessed”, though sometimes a variant spelling of Branwen; used in Wales since the 19th century |
| Enid | Feminine | Welsh, English, Arthurian Cycle | Probably from Welsh enaid, “soul, spirit, life”; the wife of Geraint in later Arthurian tales |
| Glenys | Feminine | Welsh | Probably an elaboration of glân, “pure, clean, holy”, or glyn, “valley”; created in the late 19th century |
| Dilys | Feminine | Welsh | “Genuine” in Welsh; used since the late 19th century |
| Rhian | Feminine | Welsh | From Welsh rhiain, “maiden, young woman” |
| Nerys | Feminine | Welsh | Probably a feminized form of Welsh nêr, “lord” |
| Carys | Feminine | Welsh | From Welsh caru, “love”; in common use only since the middle of the 20th century |
Angharad is the classic many Welsh families reach for first. Its entry explains that it means “much loved”, built from the intensive prefix an- and a mutated form of caru, “to love”, the same verb that gives Carys. The Welsh Government’s Cymraeg for Kids page on Welsh names for children lists both Angharad and Carys among its suggestions, along with Bethan, Catrin, Ffion, Lowri, Megan and Siân.
Several of these names belonged to real women of medieval Wales. Gwenllian was borne by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth, and Myfanwy, from the old prefix my- (“my”), became the title of an 1875 Welsh song by the Welsh composer Joseph Parry. Heledd is the narrator of the medieval poem Canu Heledd, and her entry is honest that the name’s meaning is unknown. Lleucu’s meaning is also unknown (possibly derived from Lleu), and it is remembered through a 14th-century poem.
Saints’ names form another thread. Ceinwen (“good, lovely” plus gwen), Arianwen (“silver” plus gwen) and Eluned were all early Welsh saints, and Non is, by tradition, the mother of Saint David. Gwenfrewi is the Welsh name for Saint Winifred, and Behind the Name notes that Winifred may come from it. Tydfil is tied to the town of Merthyr Tydfil and to a probably legendary saint; its entry says the meaning is unknown, so we print it that way.
Others travelled well beyond Wales. Gladys, Gwyneth, Gwendolen and Enid are all listed with Welsh usage, and their entries explain how each spread: Gladys after an 1870 novel, Enid through Arthurian tales and Tennyson’s poem, while Gwyneth, probably a variant of the place name Gwynedd, has been common in Wales since the 19th century.
Modern Welsh Girl Names Created From Welsh Words
Many of the prettiest Welsh names are not ancient at all. Behind the Name notes that names such as Delyth, Tegwen and Gwenda were created in the 19th or 20th century by joining or adapting Welsh words, which is why their meanings are so clear. More names of this kind appear in the nature table further down.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delyth | Feminine | Welsh | From an elaboration of Welsh del, “pretty”; a recently created name |
| Tegwen | Feminine | Welsh | From teg, “beautiful, pretty”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; created in the 19th century |
| Gwenda | Feminine | Welsh, English | From gwen, “white, blessed”, and da, “good”; created in the 19th century |
| Tegan | Feminine | Welsh, English (Modern) | “Darling” in Welsh, from a diminutive of teg, “beautiful, pretty” |
| Meinir | Feminine | Welsh | “Tall and slender, beautiful maiden”, from main, “slender”, and hir, “tall” |
| Meinwen | Feminine | Welsh | “Slender and beautiful maiden”, from main, “slender”, and gwen, “white, blessed” |
| Mairwen | Feminine | Welsh | Combination of Mair (the Welsh form of Mary) and gwen, “white, blessed” |
| Eilwen | Feminine | Welsh | Perhaps “white brow”, from ael, “brow”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; a recently created name |
| Valmai | Feminine | Welsh | Anglicized form of Welsh fel Mai, “like May”; invented by the Welsh author Allen Raine for her 1899 novel By Berwen Banks |
| Anwen | Feminine | Welsh | “Very beautiful”, from the intensive prefix an- and gwen, “white, blessed” |
You can see the building blocks easily here. Teg means “beautiful, pretty” and appears in Tegwen and Tegan. Main means “slender” and appears in Meinir and Meinwen. And an-, the intensive prefix from Angharad, turns gwen into Anwen, “very beautiful”.
Valmai has one of the most charming backstories on this page. Its entry explains that it is an Anglicized form of Welsh fel Mai, “like May”, invented by the Welsh author Allen Raine for her popular 1899 novel By Berwen Banks. Mairwen joins Mair, the Welsh form of Mary, with gwen, which makes it a gentle way to honor a Mary or Maria in the family.
Classic Welsh Boy Names and Their Meanings
Welsh boy names are rich in history. Many were carried by medieval Welsh kings, princes and poets, and Behind the Name records those stories in its entries. If you also love strong, traditional choices from other traditions, our old-fashioned boy names and Irish boy names lists are good companions.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dafydd | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of David, from Hebrew, “beloved” or “uncle”; borne by the 14th-century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym |
| Dewi | Masculine | Welsh | Possibly from Dewydd, an Old Welsh form of David; Saint Dewi, the patron saint of Wales, was a 6th-century bishop |
| Rhys | Masculine | Welsh, English | From Old Welsh Ris, probably “ardour, enthusiasm”; borne by the 12th-century ruler Rhys ap Gruffydd |
| Owain | Masculine | Welsh, Arthurian Cycle | From an Old Welsh name possibly from Latin Eugenius (other theories exist); borne by Owain Glyndwr, a 14th-century leader of Welsh resistance to English rule |
| Gruffudd | Masculine | Welsh | From Old Welsh Grifud: the second element is iudd, “lord, prince”, the first is uncertain (possibly cryf, “strong”); common among medieval Welsh royalty |
| Llywelyn | Masculine | Welsh | Probably from an old Celtic name combining the gods Lugus and Belenus, or from Welsh llyw, “leader”; borne by the 13th-century Llywelyn the Great |
| Hywel | Masculine | Welsh | From Old Welsh Higuel, “eminent, prominent” (literally “well-seen”); Hywel the Good was a 10th-century king known for establishing laws |
| Iorwerth | Masculine | Welsh, Old Welsh | “Worthy lord”, from ior, “lord”, and gwerth, “value, worth”; used by medieval Welsh royalty |
| Rhodri | Masculine | Welsh | From Old Welsh Rotri: rod, “wheel”, and ri, “king”; Rhodri the Great was a 9th-century king of Gwynedd |
| Madoc | Masculine | Welsh (Rare) | From Old Welsh Matauc, from mad, “good, fortunate”, and a diminutive suffix; a warrior named in the 7th-century poem Y Gododdin |
| Cadwaladr | Masculine | Welsh | “Leader of the battle”, from cat, “battle”, and gwaladr, “leader”; a 7th-century king of Gwynedd and a 7th-century saint |
| Cadfael | Masculine | Welsh (Rare) | “Battle prince”, from cat, “battle”, and mael, “prince”; the hero of Ellis Peters’s The Cadfael Chronicles |
| Bleddyn | Masculine | Welsh | From Welsh blaidd, “wolf”, and a diminutive suffix; an 11th-century king of Gwynedd and Powys |
| Idris | Masculine | Welsh | “Ardent lord”, from iudd, “lord”, and ris, “ardent, enthusiastic”; Idris the Giant was a 7th-century king of Meirionnydd |
| Illtyd | Masculine | Welsh | From Old Welsh Eltut: the intensive prefix el- and tut, “people, country”; a 6th-century saint who founded the abbey of Llanilltud |
| Meurig | Masculine | Welsh | From Old Welsh Mouric, possibly a Welsh form of Latin Mauritius (Maurice); the name of a few early Welsh kings |
| Merfyn | Masculine | Welsh | From an Old Welsh name of uncertain meaning, possibly from mer, “bone marrow”, or mor, “sea”, with a second element that is also uncertain |
| Aneirin | Masculine | Old Welsh, Welsh | Possibly from the Latin name Honorius; a 6th-century Brythonic poet said to be the author of Y Gododdin |
| Emrys | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of Ambrose, from Greek, “immortal”; Emrys Wledig (Ambrosius Aurelianus) was a 5th-century Romano-British leader |
| Ieuan | Masculine | Welsh | Medieval Welsh form of Iohannes (John, “Yahweh is gracious”), revived in the 19th century |
| Gareth | Masculine | Welsh, English (British), Arthurian Cycle | Meaning uncertain; a knight in Malory’s 15th-century Le Morte d’Arthur, possibly from a Welsh name such as Gwrhyd, “valour” |
| Gethin | Masculine | Welsh | “Dark-skinned, swarthy” in Welsh |
| Emyr | Masculine | Welsh | “King, lord” in Welsh |
| Caradog | Masculine | Welsh, Arthurian Cycle | From Old Welsh Caratauc, a Welsh form of Caratācos; an 8th-century king of Gwynedd and a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian romance |
Dafydd and Dewi are both Welsh forms of David. Dewi is the older form, and its entry notes that Saint Dewi, the patron saint of Wales, was a 6th-century bishop; Dafydd was more common in the medieval period and was borne by the 14th-century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym. Rhys, Owain, Gruffudd, Llywelyn, Hywel and Rhodri were all names of Welsh rulers, and you can read each one’s story in the table.
A handful of Old Welsh word elements turn up again and again. Cat means “battle” (Cadwaladr, “leader of the battle”, and Cadfael, “battle prince”). Iudd means “lord” (Idris, “ardent lord”, and the second half of Gruffudd). Ri means “king” (Rhodri, from “wheel” and “king”). Bleddyn comes from blaidd, “wolf”, and Emyr simply means “king, lord”.
Some entries are frank about uncertainty, and so are we. Gareth’s meaning is uncertain: it appears in Thomas Malory’s 15th-century Le Morte d’Arthur and may come from a Welsh name such as Gwrhyd, “valour”. Merfyn comes from an Old Welsh name of uncertain meaning, and Aneirin, the name of the 6th-century poet said to have written Y Gododdin, is possibly from the Latin name Honorius.
For a lighter feel, Gethin (“dark-skinned, swarthy”), Emrys (the Welsh form of Ambrose, “immortal”) and Ieuan (a medieval Welsh form of John) are short, warm and easy to say in English.
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Names From Welsh Mythology and Legend
This section lists names that Behind the Name labels Welsh Mythology, often alongside Welsh or Arthurian Cycle usage. Most come from the Mabinogi, the medieval Welsh tales told in four “branches”, or from the tale Culhwch and Olwen. The stories can be dramatic, so read the full entry before you choose; we keep the summaries short.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhiannon | Feminine | Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology | Probably from a Celtic name meaning “great queen”; in the Mabinogi a magical woman who rides a white horse and marries Pwyll |
| Branwen | Feminine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | “White raven”, from bran, “raven”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; the daughter of Llŷr in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi |
| Arianrhod | Feminine | Welsh Mythology | Probably “silver wheel”, from arian, “silver”, and rhod, “wheel”; the mother of Dylan and Lleu in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi |
| Blodeuwedd | Feminine | Welsh Mythology | “Face of flowers”; in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi she is made out of flowers and later turned into an owl |
| Olwen | Feminine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Cycle | “White footprint”, from ol, “footprint, track”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; the heroine of Culhwch and Olwen |
| Gwenhwyfar | Feminine | Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Cycle | Welsh form of Guinevere, “white phantom” |
| Modron | Feminine | Welsh Mythology | Later Welsh form of Matrona; the mother of Mabon in Culhwch and Olwen |
| Eigyr | Feminine | Welsh Mythology | Welsh form of Igraine (meaning unknown), the mother of King Arthur in Arthurian legend |
| Dylan | Masculine | Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology | From dy, “to, toward”, and llanw, “tide, flow”; in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi he takes to the sea and swims like a fish |
| Brân | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | “Raven” in Welsh; Brân the Blessed is a giant king of Britain in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi |
| Lleu | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | Probably a Welsh form of Lugus; Lleu Llaw Gyffes, raised by his uncle Gwydion, eventually becomes king of Gwynedd |
| Llŷr | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | “The sea” in Welsh; the father of Brân, Branwen and Manawydan in the Mabinogi |
| Pwyll | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | “Wisdom, reason” in Welsh; a king of Dyfed who marries Rhiannon in the First Branch of the Mabinogi |
| Pryderi | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | From pryder, “care, worry” (or perhaps a word meaning “loss”); the son of Pwyll and Rhiannon, appearing in all four branches of the Mabinogi |
| Manawydan | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | Welsh cognate of Manannán; a son of Llŷr in the Mabinogi |
| Mabon | Masculine | Welsh Mythology | Later Welsh form of Maponos; a prisoner freed by Arthur’s warriors in Culhwch and Olwen |
| Taliesin | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | “Shining brow”, from tal, “brow, head”, and iesin, “shining, radiant”; a semi-legendary 6th-century Welsh poet |
| Gwydion | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | Probably “born of trees”, from Old Welsh guid, “trees”; a powerful magician in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi |
| Myrddin | Masculine | Welsh Mythology, Welsh | Original Welsh form of Merlin, probably from the place name Moridunum (Celtic “sea” and “rampart, hill fort”); a prophet in early Welsh poems |
| Geraint | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Cycle | Meaning unknown, possibly a Welsh form of Gerontius; a Knight of the Round Table and the husband of Enid |
Rhiannon is the best known. Its entry says it probably comes from a Celtic name meaning “great queen”, and in the Mabinogi she is a magical woman who rides a white horse and outwits an unwanted suitor to marry Pwyll. Their son Pryderi appears in all four branches. Branwen (“white raven”) is the daughter of Llŷr, and her brother Brân (“raven”) is the giant king of Britain.
Some mythology names already feel at home in the U.S. Dylan is listed with Welsh, English and Welsh Mythology usage; its entry explains that it comes from words for “to, toward” and “tide, flow”, and that in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi Dylan takes to the sea after his baptism and swims as well as a fish. Taliesin (“shining brow”) was a semi-legendary 6th-century poet, and Myrddin is the original Welsh form of Merlin.
Others are rare and striking. Arianrhod probably means “silver wheel”, Blodeuwedd means “face of flowers”, Olwen means “white footprint” and Pwyll means “wisdom, reason”. Gwenhwyfar is the Welsh form of Guinevere, whose entry gives the meaning “white phantom”. A few figures have dark turns in their tales, which is one more reason to read each entry in full.
Nature Names in Welsh: Snow, Stars, Flowers and Sun
Parents often search for Welsh names that mean star, snow, flower or sun, and Welsh has wonderful options. Most of these were created from Welsh words in the last two centuries, as their entries note. For more ideas across languages, see our nature names guide.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aderyn | Feminine | Welsh (Rare) | “Bird” in Welsh; a modern Welsh name |
| Blodwen | Feminine | Welsh | “White flowers”, from blodau, “flowers”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; the title of an 1878 Welsh opera by Joseph Parry |
| Briallen | Feminine | Welsh (Rare) | From Welsh briallu, “primrose”; a modern Welsh name |
| Eira | Feminine | Welsh | “Snow” in Welsh; a recently created name |
| Eirlys | Feminine | Welsh | “Snowdrop (flower)” in Welsh, from eira, “snow”, and llys, “plant” |
| Eirwen | Feminine | Welsh | “White snow”, from eira, “snow”, and gwen, “white, blessed”; created in the early 20th century |
| Elain | Feminine | Welsh | “Fawn” in Welsh; created in the 19th century |
| Enfys | Feminine | Welsh | “Rainbow” in Welsh; first used in the 19th century |
| Ffion | Feminine | Welsh | “Foxglove” in Welsh; a recently created name |
| Gwawr | Feminine | Welsh | “Dawn” in Welsh |
| Haf | Feminine | Welsh | “Summer” in Welsh |
| Heulwen | Feminine | Welsh | “Sunshine” in Welsh, from haul, “sun”, and gwen, “white, blessed” |
| Llinos | Feminine | Welsh | “Linnet, finch” in Welsh |
| Rhosyn | Feminine | Welsh (Rare) | “Rose” in Welsh; a modern Welsh name |
| Seren | Feminine | Welsh | “Star” in Welsh; a recently created name |
| Glyn | Masculine | Welsh | “Valley” in Welsh |
| Haul | Masculine | Welsh (Rare) | “Sun” in Welsh; a modern Welsh name |
| Berwyn | Masculine | Welsh | “White top”, from barr, “top, head”, and gwyn, “white, blessed”; the name of a mountain range in Wales |
| Hefin | Masculine | Welsh | “Summer” in Welsh, a poetic form of Haf |
| Llew | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | Variant of Lleu, or a short form of Llewelyn; it coincides with the Welsh word llew, “lion” |
Snow is a favorite theme. Eira means “snow”, Eirwen means “white snow”, and Eirlys, “snowdrop”, joins eira with llys, “plant”. For flowers there are Blodwen (“white flowers”, also the title of an 1878 opera by Joseph Parry), Briallen (“primrose”), Rhosyn (“rose”) and Ffion (“foxglove”).
The sky gives Seren (“star”), Gwawr (“dawn”), Enfys (“rainbow”), Heulwen (“sunshine”) and the boy’s name Haul (“sun”). If you love star names, Seren fits well beside the picks on our names that mean star list. Summer is covered twice: Haf for girls and Hefin, its poetic form, for boys.
The landscape gives Glyn (“valley”) and Berwyn (“white top”), the name of a mountain range in Wales, while Aderyn (“bird”), Llinos (“linnet, finch”) and Elain (“fawn”) bring in animals. Llew is a variant of Lleu, but it also coincides with the Welsh word for “lion”.
Welsh Forms of Familiar Names, Plus Anglicized Welsh Names
Some of the easiest Welsh names to use are Welsh versions of names you already know. They are a natural way to honor a relative named Jane, John, Katherine or Thomas while giving a nod to Welsh roots. The meanings below come from the original name’s entry.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siân | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Jane, a feminine form of John (“Yahweh is gracious”) |
| Sioned | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Janet, a medieval diminutive of Jane |
| Catrin | Feminine | Welsh, German | Welsh form of Katherine (whose etymology is debated) |
| Bethan | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh diminutive of Elizabeth, from Hebrew, “my God is an oath” |
| Megan | Feminine | Welsh, English | Welsh diminutive of Margaret (“pearl”), usually used independently |
| Mair | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Maria (Mary); the meaning of Mary is not known for certain |
| Lowri | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Laura, from Latin laurus, “laurel” |
| Elen | Feminine | Welsh, Armenian, Czech | Welsh form of Helen (probably from Greek, “torch”); a 4th-century Welsh saint |
| Alis | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Alice, from a short form of the Germanic name behind Adelaide |
| Fflur | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Flora, from Latin flos, “flower” |
| Siôn | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of John, “Yahweh is gracious” |
| Ifan | Masculine | Welsh | Modern form of Ieuan, a medieval Welsh form of Iohannes (John) |
| Huw | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of Hugh, from a Germanic word meaning “mind, thought, spirit” |
| Tomos | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of Thomas, from Aramaic, “twin” |
| Gwilym | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of William, “will helmet” |
| Harri | Masculine | Finnish, Estonian, Welsh | Finnish, Estonian and Welsh form of Harry, a medieval English form of Henry |
| Iago | Masculine | Welsh, Galician, Portuguese | Welsh and Galician form of Iacobus (James); the name of two early Welsh kings of Gwynedd |
| Steffan | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh form of Stephen, from Greek, “crown, wreath” |
There are a few links to the newest U.S. data. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Henry was the No. 5 boy name for babies born in 2025, James No. 6 and William No. 9. Their Welsh connections, per Behind the Name: Harri is the Welsh form of Harry, a medieval English form of Henry; Iago is the Welsh form of Iacobus, the source of James; and Gwilym is the Welsh form of William.
Going the other way, many Welsh names were Anglicized long ago and are now familiar everywhere. These entries carry Welsh usage and explain the Welsh name behind each one.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen | Masculine | Welsh, English | Anglicized form of Owain |
| Evan | Masculine | Welsh, English | Anglicized form of Ifan, a Welsh form of John |
| Griffith | Masculine | Welsh | Anglicized form of Gruffudd |
| Howell | Masculine | Welsh | Anglicized form of Hywel (“eminent, prominent”) |
| Llewellyn | Masculine | Welsh | Variant of Llewelyn, itself a variant of Llywelyn influenced by llew, “lion” |
| Trevor | Masculine | Welsh, English | From a Welsh surname taken from towns named “big village”, from tref, “village”, and maur, “large” |
| Vaughan | Masculine | Welsh, English | From a Welsh surname derived from bychan (mutated to fychan), “little” |
| Tudor | Masculine | Welsh | Anglicized form of Tudur, possibly from a Celtic name meaning “ruler of the people”; as a surname, borne by five monarchs of England |
Owen is the Anglicized form of Owain, and Evan of Ifan, which makes Evan a Welsh form of John at one remove. Griffith comes from Gruffudd and Howell from Hywel. Trevor and Vaughan began as Welsh surnames: Trevor from towns whose name means “big village”, and Vaughan from bychan, “little”. Tudor, the Anglicized form of Tudur, became the surname of five monarchs of England.
Short Welsh Names and Unisex Welsh Names
Welsh has plenty of short names and nicknames, many of which are used as full names. They also make good middle names, and you will find more ideas on our short girl names list.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwen | Feminine | Welsh, English | From gwen, the feminine form of gwyn, “white, blessed”; also a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other Gwen names |
| Nia | Feminine | Welsh | Welsh form of Niamh (“bright” in Irish); used by T. Gwynn Jones in his 1916 poem Tir na n-Óg |
| Mari | Feminine | Estonian, Finnish, Welsh, Breton and more | Estonian, Finnish, Welsh and Breton form of Maria |
| Cadi | Feminine | Welsh | Short form of Catrin |
| Tesni | Feminine | Welsh | “Warmth” in Welsh |
| Gwyn | Masculine | Welsh, Welsh Mythology | “White, blessed” in Welsh; in Welsh legend a king of the Otherworld |
| Wyn | Masculine | Welsh | From Welsh gwyn, “white, blessed” |
| Dai | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh diminutive of Dafydd |
| Twm | Masculine | Welsh | Welsh short form of Tomos |
| Nye | Masculine | Welsh | Diminutive of Aneirin or Aneurin |
Gwen and Gwyn are the feminine and masculine forms of the same word, “white, blessed”, and Wyn comes from gwyn too. Nia is the Welsh form of the Irish name Niamh, and its entry notes that the poet T. Gwynn Jones used it in his 1916 poem Tir na n-Óg. Dai and Twm are classic Welsh nicknames for Dafydd and Tomos, and Nye is a diminutive of Aneirin or Aneurin.
Behind the Name lists the names below as both feminine and masculine. Note the details in each entry: Bryn is almost always masculine in Wales, and Meredith is still a masculine name in Wales even though it is used more often for girls in English-speaking countries. Our gender neutral names guide has more options.
| Name | Gender | Usage (per Behind the Name) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeron | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh | From the Welsh river Aeron, probably from a hypothetical Celtic goddess Agrona; or from Welsh aeron, “berries” |
| Afon | Feminine & Masculine | Welsh (Rare) | “River” in Welsh; a name of recent origin |
| Bryn | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh, English (Modern) | “Hill, mound” in Welsh; in Wales almost always masculine, elsewhere sometimes unisex |
| Caron | Feminine & Masculine | Welsh | From the name of places near the town of Tregaron in Ceredigion |
| Celyn | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh | “Holly” in Welsh; not typically used as a given name until the 20th century |
| Ceri | Feminine & Masculine | Welsh | Meaning uncertain: perhaps from the Ceri River, a short form of Ceridwen, or from caru, “to love” |
| Deryn | Feminine & Masculine | Welsh | Possibly from deryn, a variant of aderyn, “bird” |
| Eirian | Feminine & Masculine | Welsh | “Bright, beautiful” in Welsh |
| Ellis | Masculine & Feminine | English, Welsh | From an English surname derived from Elis, a medieval form of Elias; also an Anglicized form of Welsh Elisedd |
| Meredith | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh, English | From Welsh Maredudd, possibly from mawredd, “greatness, magnificence”, and iudd, “lord”; still a masculine name in Wales |
| Morgan | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh, English, French | From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, possibly from mor, “sea”, and cant, “circle” |
| Wynne | Masculine & Feminine | Welsh | Variant of Wyn (“white, blessed”), sometimes used as a feminine form |
Several unisex names come from Welsh places and rivers: Aeron from a river (and Ceri possibly from one), and Caron from places near Tregaron in Ceredigion. Celyn means “holly”, Deryn possibly comes from a word for “bird”, and Eirian means “bright, beautiful”. Morgan comes from the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, possibly from words for “sea” and “circle”.
How Naming Works in Welsh: Language, Spelling and Saying Names
Welsh is a living language. According to the Welsh Government’s summary of Census 2021, an estimated 538,300 usual residents of Wales aged three or older, or 17.8% of the population, reported being able to speak Welsh. That is why so many of these names are everyday words in Wales: a child called Seren or Haf carries a name her Welsh-speaking classmates understand as “star” or “summer”.
Welsh family names have their own history. A FamilySearch guide to tracing Welsh ancestry explains that mab, ab or ap means “son of” and ferch or verch means “daughter of”, and that before fixed surnames a man might be recorded as David William, while David Williams, with the final s, shows a fixed surname. You can see the old pattern in names from the tables, such as Dafydd ap Gwilym and Rhys ap Gruffydd.
Accents matter in Welsh spelling. Siân, Siôn, Llŷr and Brân are spelled here exactly as their entries spell them. U.S. records and forms do not always carry accent marks or special characters, so ask your hospital or birth registration office what can be recorded and decide early how you will write the name at home.
Behind the Name prints pronunciations in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), where ˈ comes before the stressed syllable and ː marks a long vowel. Here is what the entries give for a sample of names on this page.
| Name | Pronunciation given by Behind the Name |
|---|---|
| Angharad | /aŋ.ˈha.rad/ |
| Siân | /ˈʃaːn/ |
| Siôn | /ˈʃoːn/ |
| Dafydd | /ˈda.vɪð/ |
| Rhys | /ˈr̥iːs/ (Welsh) |
| Llywelyn | /ɬə.ˈwɛl.ɨn/ (Welsh) |
| Ffion | /ˈfiː.ɔn/ |
| Myfanwy | /mə.ˈva.nʊ̯i/ |
| Rhiannon | /r̥ɪ.ˈan.ɔn/ (Welsh) |
| Lowri | /ˈlɔu̯.ri/ |
| Huw | /ˈhɪu̯/ |
| Hywel | /ˈhə.wɛl/ |
| Dylan | /ˈdəl.an/ (Welsh) |
| Eira | /ˈɛi̯.ra/ |
| Seren | /ˈsɛ.rɛn/ |
A few patterns show up in those transcriptions. The Welsh dd is written ð in the IPA, the sound at the start of English “this” (Dafydd). A single f is a v sound (Dafydd, Myfanwy), while ff is an f sound (Ffion). The Welsh ll is written ɬ, a sound with no exact English match (Llywelyn). Welsh w often works as a vowel (Huw), and Si before a vowel is written ʃ, the English “sh” (Siân, Siôn). When in doubt, listen to a Welsh speaker or check the entry itself.
Names That Travel Well in English, Plus Sibling and Middle Name Pairings
Many families want a name that honors Welsh roots and is easy to spell in the U.S. These picks from the tables are our opinion, not a statistic.
- Already familiar in English: Dylan, Megan, Owen, Evan, Morgan, Gwen, Trevor, Meredith and Gladys.
- Easy to say, clearly Welsh: Seren, Carys, Bethan, Rhian, Nia, Eira, Gethin, Emrys and Bryn.
- Welsh spellings of familiar names: Catrin (Katherine), Lowri (Laura), Tomos (Thomas), Steffan (Stephen) and Harri (Harry).
- Bolder choices that may need spelling out: Angharad, Myfanwy, Gwenllian, Llywelyn, Gruffudd and Rhiannon.
A practical tip: say the name the way an American teacher would read it off a class list. Names with dd, ll, f or a vowel-like w may be read differently in English (Dafydd, Llywelyn, Myfanwy, Huw). That is not a reason to avoid them, just a reason to decide in advance how you will say and spell the name.
These pairings are our suggestions, built only from names on this page and their checked meanings.
- Shared gwen or gwyn: Tegwen and Gwyn, Olwen and Berwyn, or Ceinwen and Wyn, all carrying “white, blessed”.
- Snow and sun: Eira and Haul, Eirwen and Heulwen, or Eirlys and Hefin.
- Sky siblings: Seren and Gwawr, or Enfys and Glyn.
- Classic first, short middle: Angharad Nia, Gwenllian Haf, Rhodri Wyn and Owain Glyn.
- From the Mabinogi: Rhiannon and Pryderi (mother and son in the tales), or Branwen and Brân (sister and brother).
For more Celtic-language options for a brother, see our Scottish boy names list. Whatever you choose, say the full name aloud with your surname, write out the initials, and picture it on a birthday card.
Related Betteroo Guides
- Irish Girl Names
- Irish Boy Names
- Scottish Girl Names
- Scottish Boy Names
- Nature Names
- Gender Neutral Names
The Bottom Line
Welsh names range from the names of medieval princes and saints, such as Gwenllian, Llywelyn and Dewi, to names from the Mabinogi such as Rhiannon and Taliesin, to fresh names built from Welsh words, such as Seren, Eira and Heulwen. Shortlist a few, read the full entry for each, keep any accent the name carries, and decide how you will say and spell it in the U.S.
Then say each name out loud with your surname, picture it on a kindergarten cubby, and choose the one that feels like your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some traditional Welsh names?
Traditional Welsh names for girls include Angharad, meaning much loved, Gwenllian, Myfanwy, Nest and Eluned. For boys, Dafydd, Dewi, Rhys, Owain, Gruffudd, Llywelyn and Hywel were all borne by medieval Welsh rulers, saints or poets. Many of these names are still used in Wales today, alongside newer names created from Welsh words in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What is the most popular Welsh name?
We do not cite rankings for Wales on this page. The Welsh Government’s Cymraeg for Kids page lists some of the most popular Welsh names for children, including Angharad, Bethan, Carys, Catrin, Ffion, Lowri, Megan and Siân for girls, and Dafydd, Dylan, Gethin, Ieuan, Owain, Rhys and Tomos for boys.
What Welsh name means white or blessed?
Gwen and Gwyn both come from the Welsh word that Behind the Name translates as white or blessed, Gwen being the feminine form. Wyn and Wynne come from it too, and the element gwen sits inside many longer names such as Gwenllian, Ceinwen, Tegwen, Branwen, Olwen and Heulwen, which means sunshine.
How do you pronounce Welsh names like Siân and Dafydd?
According to the pronunciations on Behind the Name, Siân sounds like shahn and Siôn like shohn, with a long vowel in both. Dafydd is DAH-vith, with the th of this, because Welsh f sounds like v and dd like the th in this. Llywelyn begins with the Welsh ll sound, which has no exact English equivalent.
What are Welsh names from mythology?
Welsh mythology names include Rhiannon, probably meaning great queen, Branwen, meaning white raven, Arianrhod, probably silver wheel, and Blodeuwedd, face of flowers. Boys’ names include Brân, meaning raven, Pwyll, meaning wisdom or reason, Pryderi, Taliesin and Dylan. Most come from the medieval Welsh tales of the Mabinogi or from Culhwch and Olwen.
What does ap mean in Welsh names?
In older Welsh naming, ap or ab means son of, and ferch or verch means daughter of. A man might be known by his own name followed by ap and his father’s name, as with the 14th-century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym. Later, fixed surnames such as Williams, with a final s, came into use.
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Related Betteroo Guides
6 Sources
- Behind the Name. Welsh Names (usage index; individual entries read October 2026).
https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/welsh - Behind the Name. Welsh Mythology Names (usage index; individual entries read October 2026).
https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/welsh-mythology - Welsh Government. Cymraeg for Kids: Welsh names for children.
https://gov.wales/cymraeg-for-kids/welsh-names-for-children - Welsh Government. Welsh language in Wales (Census 2021).
https://www.gov.wales/welsh-language-wales-census-2021-html - FamilySearch. Blessings and Curses of Tracing Welsh Ancestry (handout).
https://familysearch.brightspotcdn.com/94/7f/582dc2b3e7f304105b0722a883c2/blessings-and-curses-of-tracing-welsh-ancestry-formated.pdf - Social Security Administration. Popular Baby Names (top 10 names of 2025).
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/index.html
