I love the Welsh language. It is a lyrical and musical language, very hard to learn but beautiful to hear. In my studies I have come across some lovely names of poeple in Welsh history, as well as people I have met in my travels. So I thought that I would try and give you a small look into some of the names that I have found, some old, some new, some I never imagined existed. Some you might recognize. Who knows, maybe there is a name here you might like for a new addition to your household. If nothing else you will love having a go at trying to pronouce some of them! I have in this article listed Welsh girls names, and will do another for the boys.
It is my hope that you find something that you like in this listing. Some of the names are quite old-fashioned sounding, but this is coming back into vogue. Most all Welsh names are associated with person well known in the history of the country. But all the names are part of a heritage that is both proud and long.
- Aderyn - bird
- Aelwen - beautiful brow
- Aerona - like a berry
- Aeronwen - fair berry
- Anchoret - much loved
- Aneira - honorable
- Angharad - much loved
- Angwen - very beautiful
- Anwen - very beautiful
- Anwyl - precious
- Ardun - sublime
- Arianrhod - silver
- Arianwen - silver white
- Aronwy - one who lives by the river
- Arwenna - muse
- Awel - gentle breeze
- Awena - poetry, prophecy
- Aylwen - fair brow
- Bethan - form of Elizabeth-Anne
- Blodwen - white flower
- Bloudeuwedd - flower blossom
- Brangane - white raven
- Briallen - primrose
- Brisen - queen
- Bronwen, Bronwyn - white breast
- Carey - dear
- Caronwen - little fair love
- Carys, Cerys - love
- Catrin - Welsh form of Catherine
- Ceinlys - sweet gems
- Ceinwen - beautiful and blessed
- Ceiridwen - goddess of bardism
- Cerian - loved
- Ceridwen - bright poetry
- Cigfa - raven
- Cordelia - sea jewel
- Creirwy - fair crane
- Crisiant - cyrstal
- Cyhyreath - weeping
- Cymry - of Wales
- Dee - black, dark
- Delchaem - daughter of king
- Delwyn - neat
- Delyth - pretty
- Derryth - of the oak
- Deryn - bird
- Dilys - perfect
- Dindrane - immaculate
- Dogmaela - apportion
- Don - Welsh mother god
- Dwyn - holy
- Dyllis - sincere
- Eilwen - fair brow
- Eirian - silver
- Eirlys - snowdrop
- Eirwen - snow white
- Elen - nymph
- Elenud - idol
- Eleri - Welsh river name
- Elwy - benefit
- Elwyn - one with brown hair
- Enat - soul
- Enfys - rainbow
- Enid - purity of soul
- Epona - breed
- Essylt - beautiful to behold
- Eswen - strong one
- Eurwen - gold and fair
- Ffion - foxglove
- Fflur - flower
- Ganeida- sister of Merlin
- Gaynor - smooth
- Gladys - princess
- Glenda - girl of the valley
- Glenys - holy
- Glynnis - valley or glen
- Guinevere - white wave
- Gwawl - light
- Gwawr - dawn
- Gwendolyn - white browed
- Gwendydd - morning star
- Gweneria - pure white snow
- Gwenllian - fair, flaxen
- Gwennol - swallow
- Gwenog - smiling one
- Gwenonwyn - lily of the valley
- Gwylfai - may festival
- Gwyneth - white maiden
- Gwynne - white or fair one
- Hafwen - fair summer
- Heulwen - sunshine
- Inira - honor
- Iseult - beautiful one
- Isolde - fair lady
- Ivory - high born lady
- Jennifer - white moon
- Linette - idol
- Llawela - like a rider
- Llinos - linnet
- Lona - princess
- Lowri - Welsh form of Laura
- Mab - baby
- Maban - child
- Mai - Welsh form of May
- Mair - Welsh form of Mary
- Medwenna - maiden
- Megan - pearl
- Meinwen - slim
- Meironwen - white dairymaid
- Meredith - protector of the sea
- Mererid - Welsh form of Margaret
- Meriel - bright as the sea
- Morgan - seashore
- Morgana - verge of the sea
- Morwena - maiden
- Mwynene - gentle
- Myfanwy - my precious treasure
- Nerys - lady
- Nesta - Welsh form of Agnes
- Nia - celtic princess
- Olwen - white footprint
- Owena - well born
- Rhedyn - fern
- Rhiain - maiden
- Rhiannon - nymph, witch, goddess
- Rhianwen - blessed maiden
- Rhonda - grand
- Rhonwen - white lance
- Rosslyn - moorland lake
- Rowena - fair haired
- Seirian - sparkling
- Seiriol - bright
- Sian - Welsh form of Jame
- Sioned - Welsh form of Janet
- Sulwen - bright as the sun
- Sylgwyn - born on Whitsun
- Tangwystal - peace pledge
- Teagan - beautiful, attractive
- Tegwen - beautiful and blessed
- Tewdews - divinely given
- Trevina - homestead
- Wendy - light-skinned
It is my hope that you find something that you like in this listing. Some of the names are quite old-fashioned sounding, but this is coming back into vogue. Most all Welsh names are associated with person well known in the history of the country. But all the names are part of a heritage that is both proud and long.
I used the following books to aid in my research of this article.
- Celtic Names for Children by Loreto Todd
- The Complete Book of Baby Names by Hilary Spence
- The Guinness Book of Baby Names, 7th Edition by Leslie Dunkling
- A Concise Dictionary of First Names by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges
Published by Sandra Jones
Jumped over the Pond 12 years ago, now hanging out with the sheep and the leeks! Can you tell I love Wales??!! View profile
- Liberalism: Jesus and Religious PluralityAn investigative study of the words of Jesus in comparison with the Liberal worldview of religious diversity.
The Norton Art Galleries : Make Touring Inside and Outside Beautiful and...The R.W. Norton Art Gallery, in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, houses collections of American and European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts spanning more than four centuri...
The Death of My Five Day Old Twins Bobby and KaraNothing is as blissful as carrying and bringing new life into this world. At the opposite end of such joy is the unadulterated pain and grief at the death of one's baby.- The Hostile Effects of Prisons and "Treatment" Programs on Drug AddictsThe combined effects of prisons, militaristic and totalitarian treatment programs, and politically manufactured hysteria do more damage to drug users than drugs alone could ever do.
- First US Facial Transplant Patient Thanks Donor Family and DoctorsThe first US facial transplant recipient speaks of her gratitude for the Cleveland Clinic medical personnel and the donor family that made her transplant possible.
- Welsh Names for Boys
- Welsh Baby Names
- Names for Your Baby Girl from A-Z
- Popular Irish Baby Boys and Girls Names
- The Top 10 Celebrity Baby Names of All Time
- Unique Welsh Names for Any Baby
- Most Popular Names for Baby Girls

10 Comments
Post a CommentMy name is Arwen, it means "fair one". It is also in lord of the rings.
My name's on there!
I feel special. :D
I thought it meant 'Goddess of the Horses', but now I know it also means Nymph, Witch & Goddess. This is a really interesting article, thanks alot! x
While not on your list, Sibbohan is my personal favorite :)
beautiful names! I love the Welsh language
my name - tirion pronounced tir ee on is welsh for tender one :)
I'm researching for a book and need old Welsh names. You have some here that I have not seen elsewhere. Do you have pronunciation guides?
Oh, cool list. I have to share this with my sister who is obsessed with baby names. I call Seirian....so pretty.
Okay, it's up now. My daughter will be born in June, and we can't decide on a name for her. Maybe this will help!
I can't see the article either. hope to soon.
Article is not showing - I really wanted to read this too. I'll check back.