Here is a list of popular Welsh names for children
Boys:
Aled | A river and lake in Clwyd |
Alun | A river in Clwyd |
Aneirin | The name of an early Welsh poet |
Arfon | An area in Gwynedd around Caernarfon |
Arthur | A Welsh king famous for his bravery in battle and his horsemanship |
Bedwyr | One of king Arthur’s right hand men |
Bleddyn | Wolf |
Brychan | This name means freckled, and was the name of the ruler from which the name of Breckonshire is derived |
Cai | An officer of Arthur’s court |
Caid | The king of Esyllwg who ruled South East Wales from Porthceri, Barry and fought bravely against the Romans |
Ceri | This name is derived from the word for love. It can be used for either a boy or a girl. |
Clwyd | A territory in North East Wales |
Cybi | A saint whose name lives on in Caergybi (Holyhead) |
Dafydd | A saint |
Deiniol | A sixth century saint regarded as the first bishop of Bangor |
Dewi | The patron saint of Wales whose death is celebrated on 1 March every year |
Dyfed | A territory in South West Wales |
Dyfrig | The name of an early Welsh saint |
Dylan | A sea god from mythology |
Einion/Eynon | Anvil |
Eirian | This name is derived from the word for silver. It can be used for either a boy or a girl. |
Eurig | This means ‘golden ruler’. |
Euryn | A golden boy |
Garan | Heron |
Gareth | Benign, caring |
Geraint | This is the name of the hero of one of the romances in the Mabinogion. |
Gruffydd | This name means ‘strong lord’. It is also used in the diminutive form of Guto. |
Gwyn | White, holy, fair |
Gwynedd | A territory in North West Wales |
Hedd | Hedd |
Hefin | This name derives from the word for summer. |
Huw | Warm hearted |
Hywel | Eminent. Hywel Dda was a 10th century king whose name is associated with the Welsh Laws |
Idris | The name of the mythical giant that gave his name to the mountain Cader Idris |
Iestyn | A Welsh form of Justin, meaning fairness. |
Ieuan/Ifan/Ioan | Along with Iwan, these are all Welsh forms of John. A diminutive form is Ianto |
Llwyd | One with grey hair |
Iolo or Iori | Diminuatives of Iorwerth |
Iorwerth | Worthy lord or worthy of God |
Irfon | A river in Powys where Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last independent prince of Wales, died in 1282 |
Iwan | Form of John |
Llywelyn | Leader, prince |
Meilir | This name is derived from the ancient British for ‘great king’. |
Meirion | The Welsh form of Merlin. A mythological poet and wizard |
Meredydd | Great lord |
Morgan | An old name which could mean either ‘born great’ or ‘born of the sea’. This was the name of the early Welsh ruler who gave his name to Glamorgan |
Myrddin | The Welsh form of Merlin. A mythological poet and wizard |
Nefydd | Heavenly |
Osian | The name in its Welsh form of the hero who features in the Irish love story of Niamh and Oisin |
Owain | Well-born |
Pedr | Stone or rock |
Peredur | The name of one of King Arthur’s knights |
Rhisiart | The Welsh form of Richard, which means ‘strong ruler’ |
Rhodri | An old Celtic name which literally means ‘king of the wheel’. Rhodri Fawr was the name of the king who united most of Wales under his rule in the ninth century |
Rhun | Loved |
Rhydderch | This means ‘generous lord’. Rhydderch Hael was the ruler of the ancient British kingdom of Rheged, which corresponds to the modern Cumbria. |
Rhys | King |
Seiriol | A saint who gave his name to Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island) off Anglesey. |
Steffan | A Welsh form of Stephen |
Tristan | The name of the hero associated in Welsh with the story of Tristram and Isolde |
Wyn | White, pure |
Ynyr | Ynyr |