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.
Einion
“Anvil”
Einion is a Welsh name derived from the word einion, meaning anvil. It suggests strength, endurance, and the ability to withstand great force, drawing on the anvil's role as the foundation upon which things are shaped and forged. Several medieval Welsh princes bore this name, lending it an air of ancient authority.
Einir
“Buttercup, golden maiden”
Einir derives from the Welsh word for buttercup, the bright yellow wildflower that colours Welsh meadows in spring and early summer. An alternative interpretation connects the name to elements meaning golden maiden, combining the image of golden colouring with youthful femininity. Either way, Einir is a name filled with warmth, brightness and a connection to the Welsh countryside at its most cheerful.
Eirlys
“Snowdrop”
Eirlys means 'snowdrop' in Welsh, evoking the delicate white flower that blooms at the close of winter as one of the earliest signs of spring.
Elaeth
“Second, or the one who follows”
Elaeth is a rare and ancient Welsh name with roots in the early naming culture of the Brittonic Celts, carrying a meaning related to sequence or succession, the one who comes second or follows in rank. Despite this seemingly modest literal meaning, the name was borne by saints and kings of early Wales, elevating it beyond its literal sense to carry associations of noble lineage and religious devotion. It has a spare, archaic beauty that is unlike almost any other name in the Welsh tradition.
Elain
“Fawn, young deer”
Elain comes from the Welsh word for fawn or young deer, connecting the name to the gentle, graceful creatures of the Welsh countryside. The name evokes the natural world with great tenderness, suggesting innocence, delicacy and swift grace. In Welsh poetry the fawn was frequently used as a symbol of beauty and vulnerability, lending Elain a lyrical, pastoral quality that feels both ancient and timeless.
Elen
“Nymph, light”
Elen is the Welsh form of Helen, connected to the Greek roots meaning nymph or, in another interpretation, torch or bright light. In Welsh tradition, the name is most powerfully associated with Elen Luyddog, Elen of the Hosts, a figure from the Mabinogion who is credited with inspiring the construction of the great roads of Roman Britain. The ancient roads known as Sarn Helen still trace their routes across Wales today.
Eleri
“Greatly bitter, bright”
Eleri is a Welsh name with debated origins, possibly meaning 'greatly bitter' or 'bright'. It is also the name of a river in Ceredigion, linking it to the Welsh landscape. Saint Eleri was a fifth-century Welsh saint, giving the name both natural and spiritual dimensions.
Elfed
“Autumn”
Elfed is a traditional Welsh name derived from the word for autumn, evoking the mellow, golden quality of the season. It also refers to Elfed, a historical kingdom in the Old North, the Brittonic-speaking region of what is now northern England and southern Scotland. As a seasonal name, Elfed carries warm, earthy connotations. It is deeply rooted in Welsh and Brittonic culture and makes a poetic choice for a boy born in the autumnal months or for a family with Welsh heritage.
Elfryn
“Hill with elders, or bright hill”
Elfryn is a lyrical Welsh place-name-derived personal name combining elements that evoke a hillside grove of elder trees or a bright, sunlit hill. The elder tree held deep significance in Celtic tradition as a tree of protection, healing, and the boundary between the natural and spirit worlds. A name meaning a hill of elders would have carried powerful natural and spiritual associations in early Welsh culture. The name has a gentle, melodic quality and a strong connection to the Welsh landscape.
Elgan
“Bright circle”
Elgan is a Welsh masculine name formed from the elements 'el' meaning bright, shining, or radiant, and 'can' meaning circle, ring, or song. Together they produce the meaning bright circle or shining ring, suggesting something complete, luminous, and perfectly formed. The name has a lyrical quality typical of Welsh masculine names, with a balance of hard and soft consonants that gives it a pleasing, distinctive sound. It is genuinely Welsh, rarely found outside Wales and Welsh diaspora communities, and carries the depth and musicality of the Welsh Gaelic tradition.
Elis
“Kind, benevolent”
Elis is a Welsh form of the name Elias or Ellis, carrying meanings of kindness and benevolence. It has deep roots in medieval Wales, where it was borne by scholars and chroniclers who helped preserve Welsh history. The name has a clean, modern feel despite its ancient heritage.
Elliw
“Beautiful complexion”
Elliw is a Welsh name meaning beautiful colour or beautiful complexion. The word lliw in Welsh refers to colour or hue, and the name Elliw has historically been interpreted as a term of beauty referring to a radiant or lovely appearance. It is an ancient, purely Welsh name with no equivalent in other languages, making it a distinctive choice for families wishing to honour Welsh heritage. The name has a soft, musical quality characteristic of the Welsh language, and its rarity even within Wales makes it feel quietly special.
Elonwy
“Elm river”
Elonwy is thought to derive from Welsh elements related to elm trees and a flowing river. It is closely related to the name Eilonwy, made famous by Lloyd Alexander in his Chronicles of Prydain fantasy series, where Eilonwy is a spirited princess. The name carries the gentle music of the Welsh language and evokes pastoral landscapes of ancient Britain.
Eluned
“Idol, image, or shape”
Eluned is a Welsh name rooted in the word 'eilun', meaning idol or image. It carries connotations of beauty, form, and something worthy of admiration. In Welsh literary tradition, the name is closely associated with a legendary figure known for her magical ring, which granted invisibility. Eluned suggests a person of quiet power and grace, someone whose presence leaves a lasting impression.
Elwyn
“Fair brow”
Elwyn comes from the Welsh elements 'ael' meaning brow or eyebrow, used poetically to describe the forehead or countenance, and 'gwyn' meaning white, fair, or blessed. The combination describes a person of fair or noble appearance, though 'gwyn' also carries spiritual connotations in Welsh, often associated with purity and divine favour. The name has a soft, melodic quality typical of Welsh masculine names and enjoyed steady use in Wales during the mid-twentieth century.
Emrys
“Immortal”
Emrys means 'immortal,' the Welsh form of the Latin name Ambrosius. It carries associations with timelessness, wisdom, and the legendary figure of Merlin in Arthurian mythology.
Emyr
“King, ruler”
Emyr is a strong Welsh masculine name derived directly from the Welsh word for king or ruler. It carries associations of nobility and authority, and has been used in Wales for generations as a given name with a dignified, regal character. Its short, decisive sound gives it a commanding presence without being heavy or difficult. Emyr is unambiguously Welsh and has the kind of confident simplicity that makes it both memorable and enduring.
Endaf
“Soul, spirit”
Endaf is a rare Welsh name whose root is most closely associated with the Welsh word for soul or spirit. It carries a quiet, contemplative depth, suggesting inner life and spiritual awareness rather than outward action. Welsh names built around spiritual or intangible qualities have a long tradition in the bardic culture of Wales, where poets were prized above warriors. Endaf has an understated presence: short, distinctive and entirely Welsh in character, without obvious English equivalents.
Enfys
“Rainbow”
Enfys is a Welsh name meaning 'rainbow', drawn directly from the Welsh word for that natural phenomenon. The name captures a sense of wonder and optimism, evoking the image of colour arching across rain-washed skies. It is a beautifully distinctive choice that carries the lyrical quality of the Welsh language.
Eryl
“Watcher, lookout”
Eryl is a Welsh name meaning watcher or lookout. It is an ancient name rooted in the Welsh landscape, evoking a person stationed on a hilltop keeping watch over the land. Notably, the name gained widespread attention after the Aberfan disaster of 1966, when a young girl named Eryl Mai Jones reportedly told her mother the night before that she had dreamed of going to school and finding it not there. The name carries a quiet, vigilant, and deeply Welsh character.
Eurgain
“Golden, fair”
Eurgain is composed of the Welsh elements eur, meaning gold, and cain, meaning beautiful, fair, or precious. The name thus means golden beauty or fair and precious, combining two of the most admired qualities in Welsh naming tradition. Eurgain is said to have been the daughter of the legendary king Caradog and is associated with some of the earliest traditions of Christianity in Britain.
Eurig
“Gold”
Eurig is a Welsh masculine name derived from 'aur', the Welsh word for gold, which itself comes from the Latin 'aurum'. The name evokes the precious metal's qualities of rarity, brilliance, and lasting value. It is a distinctly Welsh name with a clean, strong sound and a meaning of enduring richness. Eurig is relatively uncommon even within Wales, giving it a rare and distinctive quality for those who discover it. The connection to gold makes it a name of inherent warmth and brightness, grounded in the ancient linguistic heritage of the Welsh language.
Eurwen
“Golden and fair”
Eurwen is a Welsh feminine name composed of two elements: 'aur' meaning gold, and 'gwen' meaning fair, white, or blessed. The combination creates a name meaning golden and fair or golden-white, evoking both the warm brightness of gold and the cool clarity of fairness. Both elements are among the most productive in Welsh name-formation: 'aur' also appears in Aurona and Eirlys-adjacent names, while 'gwen' is found in Gwendolyn, Gwenllian, Bronwen, and many others. The name sounds as beautiful as its meaning suggests.
Euryn
“Golden one”
Euryn is a Welsh masculine name built on the element aur, meaning gold. The suffix gives it a personal, name-forming quality, creating a word that functions as a poetic epithet for someone golden, precious, or radiant. In Welsh literary tradition, gold was the highest symbol of worth and kingship, making this a name with a quietly noble character.
Falmai
“May flower”
Falmai is a Welsh name meaning flower of May or May blossom. It is composed of elements evoking springtime and natural beauty, combining a sense of seasonal freshness with the elegance of the Welsh language. The name is exceptionally rare and carries an almost otherworldly quality, belonging to the tradition of Welsh nature names that celebrate the landscape and the turning of the year.
Ffion
“Foxglove”
Ffion means 'foxglove,' the tall, bell-shaped wildflower that blooms across the Welsh countryside. It is a name drawn directly from nature, evoking beauty, wildness, and the landscapes of Wales.
Ffraid
“Exalted one”
Ffraid is the Welsh form of Brigid or Bridget, a name derived from the Old Irish Brigit, meaning exalted one or the high one. The name honours Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland, whose veneration spread powerfully into Wales and throughout the Celtic world. In Wales, Ffraid is deeply connected to sacred sites, holy wells, and churches dedicated to Santes Ffraid.
Ffynnon
“Well, spring”
Ffynnon is the Welsh word for a water source, specifically a well or natural spring. Holy wells, known as ffynhonnau in Welsh, were sacred sites throughout Wales, associated with healing, pilgrimage, and the blessing of saints. The name carries with it the deep spiritual and geographical history of the Welsh landscape, where water sources were seen as points where the earthly and the sacred met, and where communities gathered for both practical and devotional purposes.
Fychan
“Small, little”
Fychan is the Welsh word for small or lesser, used historically to distinguish a younger person from an elder of the same name, functioning similarly to the English Junior. It is the mutated form of bychan, and its most enduring legacy is as the source of the widespread Welsh surname Vaughan. As a given name it is rare in modern usage, but carries deep roots in Welsh linguistic tradition and medieval history, making it a striking choice for families with strong Welsh connections.
Gareth
“Gentle, enclosure”
Gareth carries the dual meaning of 'gentle' and 'enclosure', reflecting both a tender temperament and a sense of protection or safekeeping.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.