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.
Gaynor
“White phantom, fair and smooth”
Gaynor is a Welsh form of Guinevere, derived from the Old Welsh elements 'gwen' meaning white or fair and 'hwyfar' meaning phantom, smooth, or yielding. It connects directly to the Arthurian tradition and the legendary Queen Guinevere, whilst offering a more grounded and accessible form for everyday use. The name carries connotations of ethereal beauty and noble bearing.
Geraint
“Old man, elder”
Geraint is a distinguished Welsh name derived from the Latin Gerontius, meaning 'old man' or 'elder'. Despite its literal translation, the name carries connotations of wisdom and nobility rather than age. It is best known through the legendary Arthurian knight Geraint fab Erbin, whose tale of love and honour is told in the Mabinogion.
Gethin
“Dark-skinned, dusky”
Gethin means 'dark-skinned' or 'dusky,' derived from the Welsh word 'cethin.' It is a name rooted in physical description, once used to distinguish individuals by complexion, and carries a sense of distinctiveness and Welsh heritage.
Gladys
“Princess, ruler”
Gladys is an anglicised form of the Welsh name Gwladys, which in turn derives from gwlad, the Welsh word for land or nation, giving it the sense of ruler of the land or princess. The name is associated with Saint Gwladys of Wales, a 5th-century holy woman venerated in the Celtic church as the mother of Saint Cadoc. Gwladys was borne by several Welsh noblewomen of the medieval period, and the anglicised form Gladys entered mainstream English usage in the late Victorian era, becoming extremely popular in Britain and North America during the early 20th century before gradually falling from fashion.
Glain
“Jewel, gem”
Glain comes directly from the Welsh word for jewel or gem, making it one of the most transparent and beautiful of Welsh names. Wales has a tradition of gem-inspired names, and Glain captures that in its most distilled form. The name is short, clear, and thoroughly Welsh in character, carrying the kind of natural, unadorned elegance that comes from a word that has always meant something precious. It speaks to rarity and beauty without the need for elaboration. Among Welsh-language revival names, Glain stands out for its phonetic clarity and its instantly understood meaning, even to non-Welsh speakers once translated.
Glenys
“Holy, pure, fair”
Glenys derives from the Welsh word 'glan', meaning clean, pure, holy, or fair. It is a distinctly Welsh feminine name with a gentle, graceful sound. The name is closely related to Glynnis and Glynis, and shares its root with Gwenllian and other Welsh names that emphasise purity and beauty. It carries a quiet dignity and a strong connection to Welsh cultural identity.
Glenyth
“Pure valley”
Glenyth is a rare Welsh feminine name combining elements associated with a valley or glen and purity or holiness. The first element relates to 'glyn', meaning valley or glen, found across Welsh place names and personal names. The second element '-yth' or '-ith' suggests purity or cleanness, related to Welsh 'glan' meaning clean or pure. Together the name evokes a pristine, secluded valley, an image of unspoiled natural beauty deeply embedded in Welsh landscape poetry.
Glesni
“Purity, blue”
Glesni comes from the Welsh word 'glas', meaning blue, green, or grey-blue, the colour of clear water, sky, and the sea. The derived noun 'glesni' means blueness or purity, evoking the clarity of a mountain stream, the depth of a summer sky, or the freshness of the sea. In Welsh, the word also carries a sense of freshness and natural beauty. The name has an inherently poetic quality and connects the bearer to the natural landscapes of Wales. It is one of a small family of distinctly Welsh nature names that have attracted modern attention from parents seeking authentic Welsh identity.
Glyn
“Valley”
Glyn comes from the Welsh word glyn, meaning 'valley'. Like many Welsh names, it draws directly from the natural landscape, connecting the bearer to the rolling valleys that define the Welsh countryside. The name has a clean, forthright quality and a distinctly Celtic charm.
Glyndwr
“Valley of water”
Glyndwr is a Welsh place-name turned personal name, combining glyn meaning valley or glen with dwr meaning water, to create the vivid topographical image of a valley through which water flows. The name became personal history through Owain Glyndwr, the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales, who led a remarkable rebellion against English rule in the early fifteenth century. For Welsh people, the name carries the full weight of national pride, resistance, and cultural identity.
Goreu
“Best, finest”
Goreu is a striking Welsh name that means quite simply the best or the finest, from the Welsh superlative 'gorau'. In Welsh mythology he is the son of Custennin and cousin of Culhwch, a hero of the tale 'Culhwch ac Olwen' who achieves what no one else can and ultimately beheads the great giant Ysbaddaden. The name is a bold statement of excellence and carries the energy of a heroic tradition in which the greatest warrior deserves the greatest name.
Goronwy
“Hero”
Goronwy is a traditional Welsh name meaning hero, though some scholars also connect it to a root meaning strong or vigorous man. It is a name with deep roots in Welsh mythology and literature, carried by figures in the Mabinogion and by celebrated Welsh poets. Goronwy represents authentic Welsh cultural identity at its most literary and distinguished.
Gruffen
“Strong lord”
Gruffen is a variant spelling of the ancient Welsh name Gruffydd, which breaks down into 'cryf' meaning strong or mighty and 'udd' meaning lord or prince. The name was borne by numerous Welsh rulers and princes throughout medieval history, making it deeply embedded in Welsh national identity. The simplified spelling Gruffen softens the formal Welsh orthography, making it more approachable for families outside Wales while retaining the name's Celtic character and powerful meaning.
Gruffydd
“Strong lord, griffin”
Gruffydd is a venerable Welsh name steeped in royal history. Its meaning is debated among scholars, with interpretations ranging from 'strong lord' or 'strong prince' to a connection with the mythological griffin, that fierce creature combining the eagle and the lion. In either reading, the name speaks to power, nobility, and an untameable spirit that runs through Welsh history like a mountain stream.
Grug
“Heather”
Grug is the Welsh word for heather, the hardy flowering plant that clothes the hillsides and moorlands of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in waves of purple and pink. As a given name, Grug is a simple, earthy botanical choice that conjures the wild beauty of the Welsh landscape. It is among the most direct of Welsh nature names, using the common word without embellishment, resulting in something both distinctive and deeply rooted in the land.
Guto
“Good, handsome”
Guto is a Welsh diminutive of Gruffydd or Gutun, carrying the meaning of good or handsome. It has a lively, affectionate quality that is characteristic of Welsh pet names, and it connects to some of Wales's most colourful historical figures. The name is warm, energetic, and distinctly Welsh.
Gwallter
“Army ruler”
Gwallter is the Welsh form of Walter, which derives from the Old High German 'Waldhar', composed of 'wald' meaning rule or power and 'heri' meaning army. The full meaning is therefore army ruler or one who commands with power. Gwallter Mechain, the pen name of the 18th and 19th-century Welsh poet and clergyman Owen Jones, is the name's most celebrated bearer, having contributed greatly to Welsh cultural and literary life. As a distinctly Welsh rendering of a pan-European name, Gwallter offers genuine Cymric character while connecting to a name tradition found across Western history.
Gwawr
“Dawn”
Gwawr is a Welsh name meaning 'dawn', capturing the beauty and promise of first light. It is a name steeped in the poetic tradition of the Welsh language, where nature and landscape are deeply woven into the naming culture. Gwawr evokes freshness, new beginnings, and the quiet brilliance of the breaking day.
Gwenallt
“White hillside or bright hill”
Gwenallt combines the Welsh elements 'gwen', meaning white or blessed, and 'allt', meaning hillside, wooded slope, or cliff. Together the name evokes a bright, elevated place in the natural landscape. It carries a poetic, grounded quality rooted deeply in the Welsh bardic tradition.
Gweneira
“White snow”
Gweneira is a beautiful Welsh compound name formed from gwen, meaning white, blessed, or holy, and eira, meaning snow. Together they create an image of pristine white snowfall, pure and luminous. The name evokes the clean winter landscapes of Wales, combining two of the most poetic elements of the Welsh naming tradition. It has a lyrical, distinctly Welsh character that sets it apart.
Gwenfair
“Blessed Mary”
Gwenfair is a Welsh devotional name combining 'gwen', meaning white, blessed, or holy, with 'Mair', the Welsh form of Mary. Together the name means blessed Mary or holy Mary, making it a name in honour of the Virgin Mary within the Welsh Christian tradition. It is a name of quiet beauty and deep spiritual resonance, rare even in Wales.
Gwenfor
“Great and fair”
Gwenfor is a Welsh compound name formed from gwen, meaning fair, white, or blessed, and mawr, meaning great or large. The combination creates a name meaning great and fair, combining physical brightness with moral grandeur. Welsh naming tradition has long favoured such compound names that unite qualities of beauty and stature. Gwenfor carries the lyrical quality characteristic of Welsh names, with a sound that feels both ancient and poetic.
Gwenith
“Wheat, blessed”
Gwenith is a Welsh name with two closely intertwined roots. Primarily, it derives from the Welsh word 'gwenith', meaning wheat, connecting the bearer to themes of harvest, nourishment, and the golden abundance of the land. It is also associated with 'gwen', the feminine Welsh element meaning white, fair, or blessed, which appears in dozens of beloved Welsh names. Together these meanings create a name that evokes both earthly fertility and spiritual grace. Gwenith is a quietly striking choice that feels rooted in the ancient landscape of Wales, carrying the warmth of summer fields alongside a sense of purity and blessing.
Gwenllian
“White flood, fair linen”
Gwenllian is a deeply Welsh name formed from 'gwen', meaning 'white' or 'fair', and possibly 'lliant' (flood) or 'lliain' (linen). It is forever linked to the warrior princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, who led a military charge against Norman forces in 1136. The name is a symbol of Welsh courage and identity.
Gwennan
“Blessed one”
Gwennan is a Welsh name formed as a diminutive of Gwen, meaning white, fair, or blessed. The full meaning is therefore little blessed one or dear fair one. Saint Gwennan was an early Welsh-Breton saint, one of the many daughters of the legendary king Brychan Brycheiniog. The name has a gentle, lyrical sound that is distinctly Welsh while remaining approachable.
Gwenno
“Fair, blessed”
Gwenno is a Welsh pet form derived from names beginning with 'Gwen', such as Gwen or Gwenllian. The root 'gwen' or 'gwyn' in Welsh means white, fair, or blessed, carrying connotations of purity, light, and good fortune. Gwenno has the feel of an endearment or diminutive, soft and bright, but is used as an independent given name in Wales. It gained contemporary attention through Gwenno Saunders, the Welsh musician and singer-songwriter known both as a solo artist and as a former member of The Long Blondes and Pipettes.
Gwernydd
“Alder grove”
Gwernydd is formed from the Welsh word 'gwern', meaning alder tree, with the diminutive or collective suffix 'ydd', giving the sense of an alder grove or a place where alder trees grow. Alder trees hold a special place in Welsh and broader Celtic tradition, associated with the god Bran and with the protection of rivers and wetlands. The name is rare even within Wales, making it a deeply distinctive choice rooted in the landscape of the country.
Gwilym
“Resolute protector”
Gwilym is the Welsh form of William, built from the Old Germanic elements wil meaning will or desire and helm meaning helmet or protection. Together they convey someone of firm resolve who guards those in their care. The name carries the full weight of the William lineage while being distinctly and proudly Welsh.
Gwladys
“Ruler, princess”
Gwladys is the original Welsh form of Gladys, derived from the Old Welsh word 'gwlad', meaning country, land, or sovereignty. By extension it carries the meaning of ruler or princess, a person who holds dominion. Saint Gwladys was a 5th-century queen of Gwynllwg in Wales who later became a hermit alongside her husband Saint Gwynllyw. The spelling Gwladys preserves the authentic Welsh form and distinguishes the name from its anglicised derivative.
Gwydion
“Born of trees”
Gwydion is one of the most powerful figures in Welsh mythology, appearing as a magician, trickster and storyteller in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. His name is thought to derive from an old Celtic root possibly connected to trees or perhaps to divine knowledge, with some scholars linking it to the Proto-Celtic word for wood or forest. He is a complex character: brilliant, creative and occasionally ruthless, wielding magic and deception with equal skill. As a name it carries enormous mythological weight and a distinctly Welsh identity that is both ancient and vibrantly alive.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.