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.
- 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
