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.
Meilir
“Iron ruler”
Meilir is an ancient Welsh name believed to derive from elements meaning iron and ruler or chief, suggesting a leader of strength and endurance. The name is closely associated with Welsh bardic tradition, most notably through Meilir Brydydd, the earliest of the Poets of the Princes, who composed in the twelfth century. It stands as a proud emblem of Welsh literary and cultural heritage, carrying the prestige of the medieval court poetry tradition.
Meilyr
“Iron ruler or man of iron”
Meilyr is believed to derive from Welsh and Brittonic elements relating to iron and a ruler or man, suggesting strength and authority. The name was borne by distinguished Welsh poets of the medieval period, giving it a strong association with the bardic tradition of Wales. It carries a sense of quiet, enduring power rooted in both the natural and cultural heritage of Wales.
Meinir
“Tall, slender maiden”
Meinir is composed of the Welsh elements 'main' (slender, fine) and a suffix suggesting a maiden or young woman. In Welsh poetry, 'meinir' is used as a general term for a beautiful, graceful young woman, giving the name a deeply lyrical quality. It feels both ancient and delicate, rooted in the poetic traditions of Wales.
Meirion
“From Meirionydd”
Meirion derives from the historic region of Meirionydd in north-west Wales, which was itself named after Meirion, a grandson of the legendary fifth-century ruler Cunedda. The name carries strong associations with the Welsh heartland and its ancient traditions.
Melangell
“Sweet angel”
Melangell is one of Wales's most beloved and distinctive saints' names, combining the Welsh element 'mel' meaning sweet or honey with 'angel', creating the meaning sweet angel. Saint Melangell is the patron saint of hares and small animals, and her shrine at Pennant Melangell in the Tanat Valley in Powys is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Britain. She is said to have protected a hare from a hunting prince, leading to a miraculous conversion and the founding of a monastic community. The name is rare and deeply meaningful.
Menna
“Crown, diadem”
Menna is a warmly familiar Welsh girls' name that has been popular in Wales for generations. It is thought to mean crown or diadem, possibly connected to the Menai Strait that separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland. The name has a simple, friendly sound and an instantly recognisable Welsh character. Short and easy to say, Menna is the kind of name that feels both traditional and approachable, sitting comfortably on both a child and an adult. It is a staple of Welsh-speaking communities.
Meredith
“Great lord”
Meredith comes from the Welsh name Maredydd, which is composed of the elements mawr, meaning great, and udd, meaning lord or prince. Originally a masculine name borne by Welsh kings and noblemen, it gradually transitioned into predominantly feminine use in English-speaking countries from the twentieth century onward. The name carries an authoritative dignity paired with a soft, flowing sound.
Mihangel
“Who is like God, the great angel”
Mihangel is the traditional Welsh form of Michael, itself from the Hebrew Mikha'el meaning who is like God. In Welsh the name was also understood to blend the elements meaning great and angel, giving it a dual devotional sense. It is the name given to Saint Michael the Archangel in Welsh Christianity and carries the full weight of that archangelic tradition within a distinctly Welsh linguistic form.
Moelwyn
“White hilltop”
Moelwyn is taken directly from the Moelwyn mountains in Snowdonia, north Wales. The name combines the Welsh elements moel, meaning bare or bald hilltop, and wyn, meaning white or blessed. It evokes the image of a pale, exposed mountain summit. As a given name it is rare and distinctly Welsh, chosen by families wishing to honour the landscapes of north Wales.
Morgan
“Sea circle, sea born”
Morgan derives from the Old Welsh elements mor, meaning sea, and cant or geni, meaning circle or born. The name carries a sense of the boundless, ever-moving ocean and has been used for both boys and girls in Wales since medieval times. It is one of the most widely recognised Welsh names internationally and has a mystical quality reinforced by its connection to Arthurian legend.
Morwenna
“Maiden of the sea”
Morwenna is a name of haunting coastal beauty, derived from the Welsh 'morwyn' meaning maiden or maid, combined with elements that evoke the sea. Saint Morwenna was venerated in both Cornwall and Wales, lending the name a saintly gravity alongside its natural imagery. The full three-syllable name has a lyrical, flowing quality reminiscent of waves, and the affectionate short form Morwen retains much of the name's character while being slightly easier in everyday use. It is a name that carries the spirit of the Welsh and Cornish coastline.
Myfanwy
“My fine one”
Myfanwy is a cherished Welsh name meaning 'my fine one' or 'my rare one,' composed of the elements 'my' (my) and 'manwy' (fine, rare). It is a name steeped in affection, suggesting someone precious and deeply treasured.
Myrddin
“Sea fortress”
Myrddin is the original Welsh form of the name better known as Merlin. It derives from the Brittonic elements 'mori' meaning sea and 'dunum' meaning fortress or hill fort, giving the overall meaning of sea fortress. Geoffrey of Monmouth latinised Myrddin as Merlinus in his 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae to avoid unfortunate associations with a French word, and from there the name Merlin entered literary tradition. Myrddin in its Welsh form retains the full mythological weight of its Arthurian origins.
Nefydd
“Nephew, lord”
Nefydd is an ancient Welsh name derived from a word meaning nephew or, in older usage, a young lord or nobleman. The word nai in Welsh means nephew, and the name may relate to this root or to a more archaic term for a noble youth of dependent rank. The name appears in the Mabinogion, the great collection of medieval Welsh prose tales, and in other early Welsh genealogical and literary texts. It carries a distinctly archaic, dignified character.
Nefyn
“Heavenly”
Nefyn takes its name from the small town of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales. The name may derive from the Latin nemus meaning sacred grove, or from Welsh roots suggesting a heavenly or celestial quality. As a place-name transferred to personal use, it carries the rugged, windswept beauty of the Welsh coastline and the ancient heritage of Welsh Gaelic culture.
Nerys
“Lady, lordly”
Nerys derives from the Welsh word 'ner' meaning lord or chief, giving the name a sense of nobility and quiet authority. It carries the essence of a woman who leads with grace and strength.
Nest
“Pure, chaste”
Nest is the Welsh form of Agnes, a name derived from the Greek 'hagnos' meaning pure, holy, or chaste. While Agnes became the dominant form in English-speaking countries and throughout Catholic Europe, the Welsh adaptation Nest developed its own distinct identity, shedding the Latin ending to create a name that is strikingly short and strong. The most celebrated bearer was Nest ferch Rhys (born c.1085), the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth, who became known to later generations as the Helen of Wales. Her beauty, her marriages and liaisons with powerful Norman lords, and the turbulent politics of 12th-century Wales made her one of the most dramatic figures in Welsh history. The name Nest combines genuine historical depth with a spare, modern quality that suits contemporary naming tastes.
Non
“Nun, holy woman”
Non is a deeply rooted Welsh name meaning "nun" or "holy woman," carrying profound spiritual significance. It is most famously associated with Saint Non, the mother of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. This ancient name is steeped in Celtic Christian heritage and offers a beautifully understated choice with rich historical resonance.
Nwyvre
“Sky, heavens, or firmament”
Nwyvre is an archaic and poetic Welsh word meaning the sky, the heavens, or the upper firmament. In medieval Welsh poetry, it was used to describe the celestial vault, giving the name an ethereal, cosmic quality. It is one of the most unusual and distinctly poetic names in the Welsh tradition, evoking the boundless expanse of the sky above Wales.
Olwen
“White footprint”
Olwen means 'white footprint' or 'white track,' from the Welsh elements 'ol' (footprint, track) and 'gwen' (white, fair, blessed). Legend tells that white trefoils sprang up wherever she walked, giving rise to this enchanting name.
Olwena
“White footprint or she of the white track”
Olwena is an extended form of the celebrated Welsh name Olwen, which means 'white footprint' or 'she who leaves a white track', a reference to the mythological figure whose footsteps caused white clover to spring up. The name combines 'ol', meaning track or footprint, with 'wen', meaning white, fair, or blessed. It is a name of extraordinary mythological beauty.
Olwenna
“White footprint”
Olwenna is an elaborated form of the Welsh name Olwen, composed of ol meaning footprint or track, and gwen meaning white or blessed. In the Mabinogion legend, Olwen was so radiant that white trefoil flowers sprang up wherever she walked. The extended form Olwenna softens the name further, lending it a more flowing, lyrical quality while preserving its mythological beauty.
Osian
“Little deer”
Osian is the Welsh form of the Irish name Oisin, meaning little deer, from the Old Irish os meaning deer and the diminutive suffix -in. The deer was a creature of great symbolic importance in Celtic mythology, associated with the fairy realm, swift grace, and otherworldly beauty. Osian carries this enchanting mythological heritage in a form that has become thoroughly at home in the Welsh naming tradition.
Owain
“Well-born, noble”
Owain is an ancient Welsh name believed to mean 'well-born' or 'noble,' possibly derived from the Latin name Eugenius through a Brittonic intermediary. It carries deep associations with Welsh royalty, legend, and the Arthurian tradition, making it one of the most storied names in the Celtic world.
Padrig
“Noble one”
Padrig is the Welsh form of Patrick, derived from the Latin Patricius meaning nobleman or patrician. It carries the same stately heritage as its Irish counterpart Padraig but with a distinctly Welsh character. The name has been borne quietly in Wales for centuries, rooted in the veneration of Saint Patrick whose influence spread throughout the Celtic world.
Pawl
“Small or humble”
Pawl is the Welsh form of Paul, derived from the Latin 'Paulus', meaning small or humble. While it shares its ultimate origin with the widespread European name Paul, its Welsh form gives it a distinctly Celtic character. The name carries the dual heritage of a classical name fully absorbed into the Welsh language and naming tradition over many centuries.
Pedr
“Rock”
Pedr is the Welsh form of Peter, derived from the Greek Petros, which itself translates the Aramaic word Cephas, meaning rock or stone. The name was given by Jesus to his disciple Simon in the New Testament, signifying solidity, reliability, and enduring strength. In Welsh, the name is rendered with the characteristic economy of the language, stripping the Latinate ending to produce a clean, strong monosyllabic form that sits naturally within the Welsh linguistic tradition.
Penarddun
“Beautiful chief or head”
Penarddun is composed of the Welsh elements 'pen' meaning head or chief, and 'arddun' meaning beautiful or fair. It conveys the idea of a supremely beautiful woman of high standing. The name carries a sense of regal elegance rooted deeply in early Welsh mythology.
Peredur
“Hard spear”
Peredur is a Welsh masculine name formed from the elements peri meaning spear and dur meaning hard or steel. It is the Welsh equivalent of Percival, the noble knight of Arthurian legend who sought the Holy Grail. The name appears in the Mabinogion, the medieval collection of Welsh tales, as the hero of Peredur fab Efrog, one of the Three Welsh Romances. In his story Peredur is raised in ignorance of chivalry by a protective mother, enters Arthur's court, and proves himself a great warrior and questing knight. The name carries the full weight of the Arthurian romantic tradition within the Welsh literary heritage.
Prydwen
“Fair form”
Prydwen is a beautiful Welsh name composed of the elements 'pryd', meaning form, appearance, or face, and 'gwen', meaning fair, white, or blessed. Together they convey the sense of a fair or beautiful form, making it both a literal description of beauty and a poetic evocation of radiance. The name also appears in Arthurian legend as the name of King Arthur's ship in the Welsh poem Preiddeu Annwfn, adding a layer of mythic grandeur and adventurous spirit to an already lovely name.
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