The Welsh language lends itself to storytelling, songs and poetry. But it also lends itself well to names, particularly for boys. Names of strong character, reminiscent of days gone by, kings and knights, nobles and notables. You may find some of these names odd, but do a bit of delving into the annals of Welsh histoy, and you will find stories of honor and glory, of selflessness and adventure!
In Welsh naming practices, there was a trend that was predominate up to the end of teh 19th century, the use of Patromymics. A patronymic, or patronym, is a namin gof a child based on the name of one’s father. in example, if John had a son he wanted to name Thomas, the child would be know as Thomas John, Now if Thomas has a son named David, the child would be know as David Thomas. IN Wales, the naming could have used the Welsh form for a son, which is Ap. Therefore, John’s son Tomas would be know as Thomas ap John, and little David woudl be David ap Thomas, and so on. Another form of this would be naming the son after first the father, and subsequent sons would be named after the grrandfathers and then uncles,. The same could be applied for girls, but instead of ap the word verch was used (.ie. Mary verch Thomas). As well, girls could be named after their mother and then the grandmothers and aunts.
I have given you a list of names and thier meanings here just to give you a sense of things. This is by no means a complete list. That would take forever to compile!
Aled – Welsh river name
Alun – Welsh form of Alan
Anarwad – eloquent
Angwyn – very handsome
Arthfael – strong as a bear
Arthur – bear
Arvel – wept over
Arwel – old Welsh name, unknown origin
Arwyn – muse
Auryn – gold
Awen – variant of Arwyn
Barry – son of Harry
Bevan – son of Evan
Bleddyn – wolf
Bowen – son of Owen
Brice – alert, ambitious
Broderick – son of the famous ruler
Brychen – freckled
Bryn – hill
Brynmor – great hill
Bryson – son of Brice
Cadell – battle
Caderyn – battle king
Cadfael – battle metal
Cadfan – battle man
Cadoc – warlike one
Cadwallader – war leader
Calder – brook
Caradoc – amiable
Carwyn – blessed love
Cedric – war chief
Cemlyn – bent lake
Cerdic – beloved
Ceri – love
Cerwyn – fair love
Cledwyn – blessed sword
Clydai – fame
Clyde – warm
Colwyn – hazel grove
Cynderyn – chief lord
Cynfael – chief master
Cynfor – great chief
Cyngen – chief son
Cynyr – chief hero
Dafydd – Weksh form of David
Deinol – charming
Dewi – Welsh form of David
Drew – Wise
Dyfan – ruler of a tribe
Dyfrid – princely hero
Dylan – son of the waves
Dynawd – given
Edryd – restoration
Eifion – Welsh place name
Eilir – butterfly
Eiros – bright
Elaeth – intelligent
Elfed – autumn
Elgan – bright circle
Elidr – brass
Elis – Welsh form of Elias
Elwyn – white brow
Emlyn – one who lives on the border
Emry – honor
Emrys – Welsh form of Ambrose
Emyr – honorable
Enan – firm and unyielding
Eryl – watcher
Eurig – gold
Eurwyn – golden and fair
Ewan – Jehovah was favored
Galahad – war hawk
Gareth – gentle
Gavin – white hawk
Geraint – old
Gethin – dusky
Glanmor – seashore
Glyn – fortress in the glen
Glyndwr – Welsh family name
Gower – pure
Griffith – fierce lord
Gruffydd – powerful chief
Gwilym – determined guardian
Gwion – elf
Gwyn – fair, blessed
Gwynfor – fair lord
Gwynllyw – blessed leader
Heddwyn – blessed peace
Hefin – summery
Heilyn – cuo bearer
Howell – remarkable
Huw – Welsh form of Hugh
Idris – eager lord
Idwal – wall lord
Iestyn – just
Ieuan – Welsh form of John
Iolo – the Lord is worthy
Ionwyn – fair skinned ruler
Iorweth – worthy lord
Iorwyn – fair lord
Irving – white river
Ithel – generous lord
Jestin – righteous
Kai – keeper of the keys
Kane – beautiful
Keith – forest
Kynan – chief
Lleufer – Splendid
Llewellyn – lion-like
Lloyd – grey haired
Llyr – ancient sea god
Lynn – from the pool or waterfall
Mabon – youth
Maddox – benefactor’s son
Madoc – lucky
Maelgwyn – metal chief
Malvern – bare hill
Marmaduke – servant of Madoc
Math – treasure
Medfyn – from Carmarthen
Meilyr – man of iron
Morgan – great and bright
Morys – Welsh form of Maurice
Mostyn – fortress
Nennog – one from heaven
Newlin – new lake
Owian – well born
Padarn – fatherly
Pembroke – headland
Pwyll – prudence
Renfrew – raven woods
Rhain – lance
Rhodri – circle-ruler
Rhun – grand
Rhys – enthusiastic
Sayer – carpenter
Sulien – sunborn
Sulwyn – fair from the sun
Tafryn – brow of the hill
Taliesan – radiant brow
Tarrant – thunder
Tecwyn – fair and white
Tostig -sharp
Trahern – strong as iron
Trevor – homestead
Tristan – bold
Tristram – sorrowful
Urien – town born
Vaughan – small
Vychan – little
Wyn – white or pure
Wynford – white torrent
Yestin – just
Ynyr – honor
Some of the names are quite old-fashioned sounding, but this is coming back into vogue. Most Welsh names are associated with person well known in the history of the country, as well as bibical influence. The Welsh have kept many of the names alive for hundreds of years, and I have no doubt they will be kept alive for hundreds more!
Author’s notes: The following books were used in the research of this article.
·Celtic Names for Children by Loreto Todd
·
