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.
Iorwerth
“Lord of worth or worthy lord”
Iorwerth combines the Welsh element 'ior', meaning lord or high one, with 'gwerth', meaning worth or value. The name therefore conveys the idea of a lord of great worth, a man of both high status and genuine merit. It is a strong, historic Welsh masculine name with deep roots in Welsh medieval history and nobility.
Ithel
“Generous lord”
Ithel is a traditional Welsh name formed from the elements 'ith', meaning generous or bountiful, and 'hael', meaning lord or prince. Together they convey the ideal of a noble, open-handed leader, a quality greatly admired in medieval Welsh culture. Several princes and rulers of the Welsh kingdoms bore this name in the early medieval period, embedding it deeply in the historical and genealogical records of Wales. Though rare today, it retains a proud, ancient dignity.
Lewys
“Fame, warrior”
Lewys is the Welsh form of Lewis, itself derived from the Old French Louis, which traces back to the Frankish name Hlodwig, composed of elements meaning fame and warrior. The name thus carries the sense of a renowned fighter or celebrated leader. In Wales, Lewys has a distinct literary identity, most famously through Lewys Glyn Cothi, the great fifteenth-century poet whose work preserved Welsh culture through a turbulent era.
Llawen
“Joyful or merry”
Llawen is the Welsh word for joyful, merry, or glad, making it one of the most directly cheerful names in the Welsh naming tradition. The name carries an unambiguous brightness: it simply means happiness. In Welsh, the word is used in celebrations and festivals, most notably in the tradition of 'noson lawen' (merry evening), a communal gathering of music and performance.
Lleu
“Light, shining”
Lleu is a Welsh name meaning light or shining, cognate with the Old Irish Lugh and the broader Proto-Celtic root associated with brightness and the sun. In Welsh mythology, Lleu Llaw Gyffes (Lleu of the Skilful Hand) is one of the central figures of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion, the medieval collection of Welsh myths and legends. He is associated with light, skill, and destiny, born under magical constraints and eventually transformed into an eagle before being restored to human form. The name connects its bearer to one of the most celebrated heroes of Celtic mythology.
Lleucu
“Light, luminous, shining”
Lleucu is a Welsh name derived from 'lleu,' meaning light, combined with a diminutive or affectionate suffix. It is related to the name of the mythological figure Lleu Llaw Gyffes (the Shining One with the Deft Hand) and to the Welsh word for light. It is also found as a medieval Welsh girl's name and appears in Welsh poetry as the name of a beloved.
Llewelyn
“Leader's image”
Llewelyn is an anglicised variant of the Welsh name Llywelyn, one of the most historically significant names in Wales. The etymology is traditionally given as combining 'llyw', meaning leader or ruler, with 'eilun', meaning likeness or image, giving the meaning leader's image or likeness of a ruler. The name was borne by two of the greatest Welsh princes: Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, known as Llywelyn the Great, and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, known as Llywelyn the Last. It stands as a proud symbol of Welsh independence and royal heritage.
Llinos
“Linnet”
Llinos is the Welsh word for linnet, a small finch known for its delicate and melodious song. Nature names derived from birds are a distinctive feature of Welsh naming tradition, and Llinos is one of the most loved examples. The linnet is a bird associated with open countryside, hedgerows, and meadows, and its song is considered particularly sweet. The name carries a gentle, musical quality that makes it an appealing choice for parents drawn to natural imagery and the Welsh poetic tradition of associating feminine names with the beauty of the natural world.
Llio
“Splendour”
Llio is a Welsh name meaning splendour or radiance, carrying an inherent brightness within its compact form. The distinctive double-l sound, written as Ll in Welsh, produces a voiceless lateral fricative unique to the Welsh language, giving the name a phonetic beauty entirely its own. Short but luminous, Llio is a name that radiates warmth and distinction.
Llion
“Lion”
Llion is the Welsh form of Lion or Leo, carrying the ancient meaning of lion with a distinctly Welsh orthographic character. The name also resonates with Caerleon, the historic Roman fortress city in Gwent, whose name means City of the Legion. It is a bold, confident name that carries both the strength of the lion and the deep literary heritage of Wales.
Lluan
“Light, moon”
Lluan is a Welsh name connected to 'lleuad' meaning moon and the broader Celtic root for light. The name evokes the soft luminosity of moonlight, with an ethereal, gentle quality characteristic of Welsh nature-inspired names. It is extremely rare, lending it a mystical and poetic character deeply rooted in the Welsh language.
Lludd
“People's king”
Lludd is believed to derive from the Brittonic element lud, meaning people or tribe, combined with associations of kingship. The name may also connect to the Celtic deity Nodens or Nudd, a god of healing and the sea worshipped in Roman Britain. As the legendary king Lludd Llaw Ereint, the name is associated with a wise and generous ruler who protected Britain from supernatural threats.
Llyr
“Sea”
Llyr is the Welsh word for sea and the name of one of the most powerful figures in Welsh mythology. In the Mabinogion and related Welsh legend, Llyr is the sea god and the father of Branwen, Bran the Blessed, and Manawydan. He is regarded as the original inspiration for Shakespeare's King Lear, through the medieval Historia Regum Britanniae of Geoffrey of Monmouth. The name carries the vast, ancient energy of the ocean and the weight of one of Britain's oldest mythological traditions.
Llywelyn
“Leader, lion-like”
Llywelyn is a powerful Welsh name often interpreted as meaning 'leader' or 'lion-like,' drawing from elements that suggest authority, strength, and nobility. It is one of the most historically significant names in Welsh culture.
Lowri
“Crowned with laurel”
Lowri is the Welsh form of Laura, derived from the Latin laurus meaning laurel. In the ancient world, laurel wreaths were symbols of victory, honour, and poetic achievement. Despite its Latin origins, Lowri feels thoroughly Welsh, carrying the distinctive sound and character of the Welsh naming tradition.
Mabli
“Lovable”
Mabli is the Welsh form of Mabel, itself derived from the Latin 'amabilis', meaning lovable or worthy of love. The name has been used in Wales for centuries and has experienced a strong revival as parents seek names with genuine Welsh identity and warm, friendly character. It sits comfortably on both a small child and an adult, carrying a softness that feels approachable whilst remaining distinctly Welsh. The revival of Mabli reflects a broader cultural pride in the Welsh language among families in Wales today.
Mabon
“Great son”
Mabon derives from the Welsh 'mab', meaning son or youth, with an augmentative element suggesting greatness or divine status. In Welsh mythology, Mabon ap Modron (the Great Son, son of the Great Mother) is a divine youth who was stolen from his mother at birth and imprisoned, only to be rescued by King Arthur's men in the tale Culhwch and Olwen, one of the oldest Arthurian stories. His name has also been applied to the autumn equinox festival in modern pagan tradition.
Macsen
“Greatest”
Macsen is the Welsh form of the Latin name Maximus, meaning greatest. It entered Welsh tradition through the historical figure Magnus Maximus, a Roman emperor who features prominently in the Mabinogion as Macsen Wledig. The name carries a sense of noble grandeur tempered by the lyrical quality of the Welsh language.
Madoc
“Fortunate, goodly”
Madoc derives from the Welsh word 'mad' meaning good or fortunate, making it a name that bestows a blessing of good fortune upon its bearer. It is most famously associated with the legendary Prince Madoc, said to have sailed to the New World centuries before Columbus.
Maelan
“Prince”
Maelan derives from the Welsh element 'mael', meaning prince or chieftain, a root that also appears in well-known Welsh names such as Caradoc and Maelgwn. The suffix '-an' is a common Welsh diminutive or affectionate ending, making Maelan something like 'little prince' or 'young chieftain'. The name has roots in both Welsh and Breton naming traditions, having been borne by early saints and nobles in the Celtic-speaking world. Saint Maelan was venerated in Brittany, France, reflecting the close historical ties between Wales and Brittany stemming from the migration of Brythonic-speaking peoples in late antiquity. The name is simple, strong, and rooted in the ancient Celtic world.
Mair
“Mary”
Mair is the Welsh form of Mary, one of the most significant names in the Christian tradition worldwide. Mary itself derives from the Hebrew Miriam, whose meaning is debated but often given as sea of bitterness, beloved, or wished-for child. In Wales, Mair has been used for centuries as the vernacular form of the Virgin Mary's name and carries the same deep religious reverence as Mary does across other Christian cultures. Short, strong, and unmistakably Welsh, it is a name that spans all generations and social contexts within Wales.
Mali
“Beloved, of the sea”
Mali is a Welsh pet form of Mair, the Welsh equivalent of Mary, which derives from the Hebrew Miryam. The Hebrew root is debated but most commonly interpreted as beloved, wished-for child or bitter sea. In Wales, Mali has moved beyond its origins as a diminutive to become a fully established given name in its own right, admired for its sweetness, simplicity and authentic Welsh character. It has grown steadily in popularity and is now one of the most-loved girls' names in Wales.
Marchell
“Horse lord”
Marchell is an ancient Welsh name believed to derive from a root meaning horse lord, possibly connected to the Latin Marcella through early Romano-British contact. The name belongs to the earliest stratum of Welsh nomenclature, tied to the legends of the early medieval period. It is most famously associated with Marchell, the daughter of the Romano-British king Tewdrig and mother of the legendary Brychan of Brycheiniog, a figure whose children became revered saints throughout Wales and Ireland.
Mared
“Pearl”
Mared is a graceful Welsh name meaning 'pearl', derived from the same root as Margaret. Like the pearl itself, the name suggests something precious, formed with patience and natural beauty, carrying a quiet lustre and timeless elegance.
Maredudd
“Great lord”
Maredudd is the original Welsh form of the name anglicised as Meredith. It is believed to derive from the Brittonic elements mawr, meaning great, and udd, meaning lord or prince. Together they form the meaning great lord or magnificent prince. The name was borne by several important figures in medieval Welsh history, including a king of Deheubarth in the tenth century who was an ancestor of the Tudor dynasty that later ruled England.
Marteg
“Lady, mistress”
Marteg is a Welsh feminine name, a Cymricised form rooted in the same Aramaic and Hebrew source as Martha, meaning lady or mistress of the house. The name carries the distinctive consonantal texture of the Welsh language whilst remaining connected to the broader European tradition of Martha-derived names. Rare in modern usage, Marteg represents a layer of medieval Welsh name-giving that has largely receded, making it a name of genuine historical and linguistic rarity for those seeking authentic Celtic heritage.
Math
“Treasure”
Math is an ancient Welsh name meaning treasure or wealth. In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, one of the foundational texts of Welsh mythology, Math fab Mathonwy is the powerful King of Gwynedd and a master magician. He is a figure of wisdom, justice and magical authority. The name is both concise and deeply rooted in Welsh literary heritage, carrying the prestige of one of the oldest named characters in Welsh tradition.
Mathonwy
“Treasure holder”
Mathonwy is an ancient Welsh name from the Mabinogi, the collection of medieval Welsh myths that forms one of the cornerstones of Celtic literature. He is the father of Math fab Mathonwy, a powerful magician-king of Gwynedd. The name contains the element math, meaning treasure or wealth in Old Welsh, combined with a patronymic suffix. It is exceptionally rare as a given name and is primarily known through its literary and mythological context.
Medwen
“Mead-white or pale as mead”
Medwen is thought to combine the Welsh element 'med', relating to mead (the honey-based drink), with 'wen', meaning white, fair, or blessed. The name evokes a golden-white luminosity, like the colour of mead, combined with the grace suggested by 'wen'. It is a rare, ancient-feeling Welsh name with a softly poetic quality.
Megan
“Pearl”
Megan is a Welsh diminutive of Margaret, ultimately deriving from the Greek "margarites" meaning "pearl." Though it began as a pet form, Megan has long since established itself as an independent name in its own right. It carries a friendly, approachable warmth that has made it beloved across the English-speaking world and beyond.
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