Welsh Baby Names
Explore 290 welsh names, each with its own meaning, history, and pronunciation. Find one that carries the stories you want your child to grow up with.
Welsh names are among the most phonetically consistent in Europe. Once the alphabet is learned, almost every Welsh name reads exactly as it is spelt. The Welsh naming tradition draws on bardic poetry, Christian saints, and an unbroken Celtic lineage.
A short history
Welsh naming traces to the Brythonic roots of the language and developed through centuries of bardic literature (the Mabinogion, the Welsh Triads) and a dense tradition of saints. The 20th century saw a Welsh-language revival that brought names like Rhys, Bethan, and Cerys back into international use.
Naming traditions
Welsh surnames historically were patronymic: Dafydd ap Rhys meant 'Dafydd, son of Rhys', which eventually became Prys and Price. This is why many Welsh surnames are first-name-like (Jones, Davis, Evans). The convention was formalised under Tudor pressure to adopt fixed surnames, but the patronymic logic still shows in the language.
Sound and style
Welsh has a handful of double-letter consonants that work as single sounds: ll (voiceless l), ff (f), dd (voiced th), rh (aspirated r), ch (throaty ch). Once these five are in your ear, Welsh names become as easy to read as Italian.
Frequently asked
Is Welsh hard to pronounce?
Welsh is actually one of the most consistent languages in Europe once you know the alphabet. The double letters 'll', 'dd', 'ff', and 'rh' each have a single fixed sound. There are no silent letters.
Aberfa
“From the estuary”
Aberfa is a Welsh name meaning "from the estuary," evoking the meeting of river and sea. It is a beautifully atmospheric name that connects a child to the Welsh landscape and the poetic tradition of place-inspired naming.
Adara
“Catches birds”
Adara is an unusual and captivating Welsh name meaning "catches birds," conjuring images of someone with a natural affinity for the wild and a gentle, patient spirit. It is a name that feels both poetic and grounded, connecting its bearer to the natural world and the ancient Welsh landscape. Adara carries a sense of quiet skill and enchantment.
Addien
“Beautiful, fair”
Addien is a Welsh name meaning "beautiful" or "fair," drawing from the rich tradition of poetic Welsh naming. It carries an air of gentle elegance and quiet grace, reflecting the Welsh appreciation for natural beauty and lyrical language.
Aelwen
“Fair browed”
Aelwen is a lyrical Welsh name combining 'ael' meaning brow and 'wen' meaning fair, white, or blessed. The name paints a picture of serene beauty, evoking the image of someone with a clear, radiant countenance and a gentle disposition.
Aelwyd
“Hearth, home”
Aelwyd is a Welsh name meaning "hearth" or "home," evoking the warmth and security of the family fireside. In Welsh culture, the hearth has always been the symbolic centre of domestic life, and this name carries that powerful sense of belonging, warmth, and togetherness.
Aeron
“Berry, battle”
Aeron is a striking Welsh name with a dual meaning, signifying both "berry" and "battle." It is connected to Agrona, an ancient Celtic goddess of war and slaughter, while simultaneously evoking the Welsh word for berry, lending it an unexpected duality of fierceness and natural sweetness.
Aerona
“Berry, fruit”
Aerona is a lovely Welsh name meaning "berry" or "fruit," connected to the natural abundance of the Welsh countryside. It carries connotations of sweetness, growth, and vitality, making it a charming choice for parents who appreciate nature-inspired names rooted in Celtic tradition.
Afon
“River”
Afon is a Welsh word meaning "river," used as a given name that evokes the natural beauty and flowing landscapes of Wales. The name carries a sense of movement, life, and constancy, much like the rivers that carve through the Welsh valleys and mountains. As a gender-neutral name, Afon appeals to parents who are drawn to nature-inspired names with a distinctly Celtic identity. It is simple, melodic, and deeply rooted in the Welsh language.
Alaw
“Melody, harmony”
Alaw is a lyrical Welsh name meaning 'melody' or 'harmony,' capturing the musicality and poetic spirit of Welsh culture. The name evokes the beauty of song and the gentle flow of music, making it a wonderfully expressive choice. In Welsh tradition, Alaw is also associated with a river, connecting the name to the natural landscape and the idea of flowing, harmonious movement.
Aled
“Offspring, child”
Aled is a Welsh name possibly derived from the word meaning offspring or child, though it is also strongly associated with the River Aled in north Wales. The name has a gentle, musical quality that has made it a beloved choice in Wales. Its most famous bearer, the singer Aled Jones, brought it to international attention.
Alwen
“White river”
Alwen is a lyrical Welsh name meaning "white river," drawing its imagery from the clear, sparkling waterways of the Welsh countryside. It is a name that flows with natural beauty and tranquillity, connecting its bearer to the landscape and poetic tradition of Wales. Gentle yet distinctive, Alwen carries the quiet strength of water that shapes the land through patience and persistence.
Alys
“Noble, graceful”
Alys is the Welsh form of Alice, derived from the Old French name Aalis, which itself comes from the Germanic name Adalheidis, meaning "noble" and "kind" or "type." In its Welsh context, Alys carries connotations of grace, nobility and timeless elegance, offering a distinctive Celtic twist on a classic name.
Amaethon
“Great ploughman”
Amaethon is a name from Welsh mythology, derived from the Brittonic word 'amaeth' meaning ploughman or farmer. The name belongs to Amaethon fab Don, a figure in the Mabinogion who is associated with agriculture, cultivation, and the transformative power of working the land. As a given name, Amaethon carries a sense of groundedness and productive strength, connecting the bearer to the mythological landscape of Wales and the ancient reverence for those who cultivate the earth.
Amlyn
“Edge, border”
Amlyn is a Welsh name meaning 'edge' or 'border,' connected to the Welsh word 'amyl' denoting a boundary or periphery. It carries associations with the borderlands and liminal spaces of Wales, suggesting a person who exists at the frontier between worlds, ideas or territories. The name has a quiet, poetic quality that feels both grounded in the Welsh landscape and open to interpretation.
Andras
“Manly”
Andras is a bold Welsh name meaning "manly" or "brave," serving as the Welsh form of the Greek name Andreas. It carries a sense of strength and courage, deeply embedded in Celtic tradition. The name has a clean, strong sound that feels both ancient and contemporary, connecting its bearer to a rich heritage of Welsh language and culture.
Aneirin
“Noble, golden”
Aneirin is one of the most venerable names in the Welsh language, borne by a sixth-century poet whose work Y Gododdin is among the earliest surviving works of Welsh literature. The name is thought to derive from elements meaning noble or golden, though its exact etymology is debated. It carries immense cultural weight in Wales, associated with poetic genius, national identity, and, through the anglicised form Aneurin (as in Aneurin Bevan), visionary political leadership. Aneirin is a name for those who value heritage, artistry, and substance.
Angharad
“Much loved”
Angharad is a deeply rooted Welsh name meaning "much loved" or "greatly beloved." It carries an enduring sense of warmth and devotion, making it a name that feels both ancient and profoundly tender.
Annest
“Grace”
Annest is a beautiful Welsh name meaning "grace," rooted in the medieval Welsh naming tradition. It is an ancient form that predates the more common Anna or Anne, offering a distinctly Welsh identity with the same lovely meaning. The name carries an air of elegance and historical depth, connecting its bearer to centuries of Welsh heritage.
Anwen
“Very beautiful”
Anwen means 'very beautiful' or 'very fair,' composed of the Welsh intensifying prefix 'an-' and 'gwen,' meaning 'white, fair, beautiful.' It is a name that radiates gentle beauty and purity.
Aranwen
“Silver and white”
Aranwen combines the Welsh element 'aran', relating to silver or brightness, with 'wen', meaning white or pure, together evoking an image of shimmering clarity. The name carries an ethereal, luminous quality that feels both ancient and timeless. It suggests a character of quiet radiance, purity of spirit, and gentle strength rooted in the Celtic landscape.
Ardudwy
“High land”
Ardudwy is a distinctive Welsh name meaning "high land" or "elevated territory," deeply rooted in the landscape and geography of north-west Wales. It takes its name from the historic cantref (district) of Ardudwy in Gwynedd, a rugged coastal region of mountains and ancient stone. The name evokes the grandeur of the Welsh landscape, connecting its bearer to a place of wild beauty and enduring strength.
Arianell
“Silver”
Arianell is a Welsh diminutive form derived from 'arian', the Welsh word for silver. The '-ell' suffix is a traditional Welsh diminutive, giving the name a gentle, affectionate quality, like 'little silver one'. Silver in Welsh culture is associated with brightness, purity, and value, making Arianell a name that speaks of luminous worth. It has the musical, flowing quality characteristic of Welsh feminine names.
Arianwen
“Silver white”
Arianwen comes from the Welsh elements arian (silver) and gwen (white, fair, blessed). It combines two luminous concepts to create an image of shimmering, radiant beauty. Saint Arianwen was a 5th-century Welsh saint, lending the name a sacred dimension alongside its poetic appeal.
Arthfael
“Bear prince”
Arthfael is composed of the Old Welsh elements 'arth' meaning bear and 'mael' meaning prince or chieftain. It is a powerful compound name with deep roots in early Welsh history and mythology, evoking the strength and nobility of the bear combined with royal standing. Several early Welsh rulers bore this name.
Arwel
“Prominent, conspicuous”
Arwel is a Welsh name composed of the elements 'ar' (over, upon) and 'gwel' (sight, view), suggesting one who is prominent, conspicuous or stands above the rest. The name has a confident, assured quality that speaks to visibility and distinction. It is a quietly powerful choice rooted in the ancient Welsh language.
Arwenna
“Fair muse”
Arwenna is a Welsh name meaning "fair muse," combining elements that evoke beauty, inspiration, and poetic grace. It is a name that feels both ancient and fresh, rooted in the Celtic tradition of names that celebrate the qualities of the natural world and the creative spirit. Its melodic sound and luminous meaning make it a captivating choice.
Arwyn
“Fair muse, greatly blessed”
Arwyn is composed of the Welsh elements ar meaning upon, over or greatly, and gwyn meaning fair, white or blessed. Together they produce a meaning of greatly blessed or fair muse, combining a sense of elevated dignity with the radiant quality associated with gwyn. The name has a heroic, lyrical quality that suits its Welsh mythological landscape, suggesting both nobility and poetic inspiration.
Beca
“Captivating”
Beca is the traditional Welsh form of Rebecca, derived from the Hebrew Rivkah, which is thought to mean 'to bind' or 'captivating snare', suggesting beauty that holds others enthralled. In Wales, the name gained extraordinary historical resonance through the Rebecca Riots of the 1840s, when Welsh tenant farmers disguised as women, calling themselves 'Rebecca and her daughters', destroyed tollgates in protest at unjust road charges. This gave the name a proud, rebellious spirit that sits alongside its softer biblical origins.
Bedwyn
“Birch grove”
Bedwyn derives from the Old Welsh or Brythonic element relating to the birch tree. The birch was a sacred tree in Celtic tradition, associated with new beginnings, purification, and the returning light of spring. A name meaning birch grove therefore carries connotations of renewal, natural beauty, and a deep connection to the land. Bedwyn has a soft, woodland quality that distinguishes it from harder-sounding Welsh names, giving it a gentle, poetic character.
Bedwyr
“Birch hero”
Bedwyr is an ancient Welsh name traditionally interpreted as "birch hero" or "one who knows the birch." It evokes images of strength rooted in the natural world, combining warrior spirit with the resilience of the birch tree.
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