481 Timeless Welsh Boy Names For Your Son
Worthy names from Wales for your wondrous Welsh son are right here.
Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Welsh baby boy names have stood the test of time. These names are still used in many parts of the world today, not just in Wales. Welsh is a phonetic language with Celtic roots (1). It is commonly spoken by the people of Wales and some parts of Britain. The language can be broadly classified into four distinct periods—Primitive, Old, Middle, and Modern. These distinctions marked an evolution of the language that altered how alphabets were used, impacting the Welsh spellings and pronunciations. Welsh names are distinct because of their unique pronunciations. In the language, w and y are considered vowels, besides a, e, i, o, and u. The phonetic sounds of the alphabet also differ significantly, with w pronounced as oo, y pronounced as uh or ee depending on which syllable it is, and f pronounced as v. For instance, Dafydd would be pronounced David (1). Welsh names have a poetic beauty to them, but a little knowledge of the language is required to pronounce them correctly. Welsh people followed a patronymic naming system, meaning that the child inherits the given name or the father's first name as a last name or surname. Back in the day, the prefix ‘ab’ or ‘ap,’ meaning ‘son of,’ was inserted between the child’s given name and the patronymic name. However, with the introduction of the Act of Union in 1536, all official documents were required to be recorded in English. After this, the patronymic naming system started to dissipate (1). However, Welsh first names like Dylan, Rhys, and Owen are still quite popular among parents (2). According to data from the SSA, Dylan and Owen are well-known Welsh boy names in the US, standing at rank 41 and 18, respectively, as of 2022 (3) (4 ). We have listed a vast collection of such Welsh baby names for boys just for you. Keep scrolling!
On This Page
Browse Baby Names By Gender
Browse Baby Names By Alphabet
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Boy | To tide; To flow | |
| | Boy | Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree | |
| | Boy | Farmer; Earth worker | |
| | Boy | Bear king; Bear | |
| | Boy | Son of Madoc; Fortunate | |
| | Boy | Prince; Chieftain; Gorse hill; Hill covered with broom | |
| | Boy | Son or descendant of Cadán; Strength; Battle spirit; Warrior | |
| | Boy | Lord; Prince | |
| | Boy | My God is Yahweh | |
| | Boy | Battle; Spirit of the battle; Sturdy; Round | |
| | Boy | Son of Owen; Noble; Victorious | |
| | Boy | Ardor; Enthusiasm; Fiery warrior; War hammer | |
| | Boy | Royal ruler; Bold Power; Chief hero; Greatest champion | |
| | Boy | God's gift | |
| | Boy | God's gift | |
| | Boy | Son of David; Beloved; Uncle | |
| | Boy | Enthusiasm; Ardor | |
| | Boy | Born of the sea; Sea chief | |
| | Boy | Famous friend; Sea friend; Bone marrow; Eminent; Noble; Wish; Desire; Young goat or kid | |
| | Boy | Weir; Group of people | |
| | Boy | Fiery hill; Prince; King | |
| | Boy | King; Female roe deer | |
| | Boy | Heart; Compassionate; Tide; Flow | |
| | Boy | Fame; Power; Rule | |
| | Boy | Battle; Warlike; Lake; Large expanse of water | |
| | Boy | Fortunate; Good | |
| | Boy | Fine wine lover; The wild one; High stronghold; Fertile land | |
| | Boy | Immortal; Divine | |
| | Boy | Blind | |
| |  Unisex | Spear; Acquired; Archaic; Clear water | |
| | Boy | Gray | |
| | Boy | Prince; King; Outstanding | |
| | Boy | Famous ruler | |
| | Boy | Prince; King | |
| | Boy | Rocky water; Wild or rough stream | |
| | Boy | Gray-haired | |
| | Boy | Son of Rhydderch; Descendant of Bruadar; Brother | |
| | Boy | Sea fort | |
| | Boy | Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good | |
| | Boy | Dry resinous wood; River bend; Trust; Loyalty; Boar | |
| | Unisex | Weir; Acollective group of individuals | |
| | Boy | Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good | |
| | Boy | Holy water | |
| | Unisex | Mythical Greek creature Griffin; Strong prince | |
| | Boy | Head; Top; Hill | |
| | Boy | He gave | |
| | Boy | Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm | |
| | Boy | Bold power; Royal power; Chief hero; Greatest champion | |
| | Boy | Son of the sea; Tide; Flow | |
| | Boy | Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm | |
| | Boy | Toward the tide or flow | |
| | Boy | A gentle one; Descent | |
| | Boy | Pierce the valley; Hard spears | |
| | Boy | Son of William | |
| | Unisex | Weir; Group of people | |
| | Boy | Settlement belonging to battle | |
| | Boy | Thunder | |
| | Boy | Three; Little | |
| | Boy | Lord; Prince | |
| | Boy | Oaktree; Great; From Airelle; Edge | |
| | Unisex | Son of Madoc; Good; Fortunate | |
| | Boy | Rich guard | |
| | Boy | Holy sanctuary | |
| | Boy | Rejoice; Joyful | |
| | Boy | Famous ruler | |
| | Boy | Thunder; A raft; A boat; Crossing over | |
| | Boy | Ruler of the spear | |
| | Boy | Red; Crossing | |
| | Boy | Little black one; Little stag; Little ox; Of Devonshire | |
| | Boy | Wise friend; Elf friend; River Alwen | |
| | Boy | Greatest | |
| | Boy | To tide; To flow | |
| | Unisex | Twin; Wealth; Abundance; Capital; Beautiful | |
| | Boy | Lord; Prince | |
| | Boy | Son of the fortunate one | |
| | Boy | River | |
| | Unisex | Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Strength; Gentle; Loyalty; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán | |
| | Boy | Ardent lord; Wealthy king; Interpreter | |
| | Boy | Brown; Yellow; Tawny; Hindu god Vishnu; Lion; Horse; Monkey; To shine; Ruler of the home; High | |
| | Unisex | Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán | |
| | Unisex | Son of Madoc; Good fortune | |
| | Unisex | Carpenter | |
| | Boy | The greatest one | |
| | Boy | White; Fair; Blessed; People's friend | |
| | Boy | Raven; Little crow | |
| | Boy | Little | |
| | Boy | Fire; Inspiration | |
| | Unisex | The people | |
| | Boy | A raven; A blackbird that resembles a crow | |
| | Boy | Friend of the elves; Noble friend; Old friend | |
| | Boy | Competition; Ardor | |
| | Unisex | Little | |
| | Boy | Name of a town; Beloved; Friend | |
| | Boy | King; Lord; Prince; Commander | |
| | Boy | Hawk; God-send; Hawk field | |
| | Unisex | Sun | |
| | Boy | Strong lord; Prince | |
| | Boy | Born from the yew tree; God is gracious; Well-born; Youth | |
| | Boy | Leader; Lion; Strong | |
| | Unisex | Dark-skinned; Moorish | |
Welsh baby boy names are relevant worldwide today despite their ancient roots. They are sometimes even preferred over conventional English names because of the phonetic nature of the Welsh language. Welsh names possess a unique beauty when it comes to spelling and pronunciation. They may be challenging to grasp initially, but once you get the hang of it, they roll off the tongue. Thus, by naming your son in Welsh, you would be gifting him a memorable name and a legacy that goes back centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Welsh name means victory?
Gwilym, a variant of William, is one masculine Welsh name that means victory.
2. What is the meaning of the name Bryn in Welsh?
Bryn is a unisex Welsh name that means 'hill' or 'mound.' It is more commonly seen as a boy's name.
3. What is the origin of the Welsh name Rhys?
Rhys, a masculine Welsh name, is derived from the Old Welsh 'Ris,' which means 'enthusiasm' or 'ardor.'
4. What is the significance of family names in Welsh culture, and what is the traditional process of naming a Welsh baby boy?
Welsh culture has unique surnames because they can be derived from descriptive names or nicknames, occupational background, and location. It also follows a patronymic naming system. Sons usually have an 'ab' or 'ap' between their given name and their father's to signify 'son of.' For example, David ab Owen means David' son' of Owen. As for girls, 'ferch,' or 'verch,' is usually abbreviated to 'vch,' and it signifies 'daughter of.' (5)
5. What is the significance of the name Dylan in Welsh culture, and how does it relate to Welsh folklore?
The name Dylan is derived from two Welsh elements: 'dy,' which means 'toward,' and 'llanw,' which means 'tide' or 'flow.' Dylan has strong connections to Welsh folklore because Dylan ail Don is a character in the Welsh mythic Mabinogion tales. He is assumed to be a Welsh sea god because he morphed into a sea creature during his baptism.
Infographic: Wonderful Welsh Baby Boy Names With Meanings
The Welsh language has its roots in the Celtic languages and has undergone significant evolution. Welsh baby names are phonetically pleasing to the ears and are distinctive, giving the name's bearer a unique identity. The infographic below presents Welsh baby boy names along with their meanings.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- What Are Welsh Names About?
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/welsh-names - Welsh Names for Children.
https://www.gov.wales/cymraeg-for-kids/welsh-names-for-children - Popularity of name Dylan.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ - Wales Personal Names
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Wales_Personal_Names
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.
Read full bio of Trisha Chakraborty
Read full bio of Shikha Thakur
Read full bio of Nisha Bharatan
