481 Timeless Welsh Boy Names For Your Son

Worthy names from Wales for your wondrous Welsh son are right here.

Written by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd Expertise: Child development & educationExperience: 5 years

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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Last Updated on Nov 26, 2024

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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!

Name	Gender	Meaning
Dylan	Boy	To tide; To flow
Evan	Boy	Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree
George	Boy	Farmer; Earth worker
Arthur	Boy	Bear king; Bear
Maddox	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate
Brandon	Boy	Prince; Chieftain; Gorse hill; Hill covered with broom
Caden	Boy	Son or descendant of Cadán; Strength; Battle spirit; Warrior
Griffin	Boy	Lord; Prince
Ellis	Boy	My God is Yahweh
Cade	Boy	Battle; Spirit of the battle; Sturdy; Round

Bowen	Boy	Son of Owen; Noble; Victorious
Rhys	Boy	Ardor; Enthusiasm; Fiery warrior; War hammer
Kendrick	Boy	Royal ruler; Bold Power; Chief hero; Greatest champion
Mathias	Boy	God's gift
Matthias	Boy	God's gift
Davis	Boy	Son of David; Beloved; Uncle
Reece	Boy	Enthusiasm; Ardor
Morgan	Boy	Born of the sea; Sea chief
Marvin	Boy	Famous friend; Sea friend; Bone marrow; Eminent; Noble; Wish; Desire; Young goat or kid
Krew	Boy	Weir; Group of people

Brendan	Boy	Fiery hill; Prince; King
Rey	Boy	King; Female roe deer
Dilan	Boy	Heart; Compassionate; Tide; Flow
Merrick	Boy	Fame; Power; Rule
Chad	Boy	Battle; Warlike; Lake; Large expanse of water
Maddux	Boy	Fortunate; Good
Denzel	Boy	Fine wine lover; The wild one; High stronghold; Fertile land
Emrys	Boy	Immortal; Divine
Cecil	Boy	Blind
Kain	Unisex	Spear; Acquired; Archaic; Clear water

Lloyd	Boy	Gray
Brenden	Boy	Prince; King; Outstanding
Roderick	Boy	Famous ruler
Brendon	Boy	Prince; King
Calder	Boy	Rocky water; Wild or rough stream
Floyd	Boy	Gray-haired
Broderick	Boy	Son of Rhydderch; Descendant of Bruadar; Brother
Marlin	Boy	Sea fort
Maddex	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good
Truitt	Boy	Dry resinous wood; River bend; Trust; Loyalty; Boar

Cru	Unisex	Weir; Acollective group of individuals
Maddix	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good
Conway	Boy	Holy water
Gryffin	Unisex	Mythical Greek creature Griffin; Strong prince
Penn	Boy	Head; Top; Hill
Natan	Boy	He gave
Price	Boy	Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm
Kendric	Boy	Bold power; Royal power; Chief hero; Greatest champion
Dillan	Boy	Son of the sea; Tide; Flow
Pryce	Boy	Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm

Daylan	Boy	Toward the tide or flow
Jareth	Boy	A gentle one; Descent
Percival	Boy	Pierce the valley; Hard spears
Williams	Boy	Son of William
Kru	Unisex	Weir; Group of people
Chadwick	Boy	Settlement belonging to battle
Taron	Boy	Thunder
Trayvon	Boy	Three; Little
Griffen	Boy	Lord; Prince
Daren	Boy	Oaktree; Great; From Airelle; Edge

Maddax	Unisex	Son of Madoc; Good; Fortunate
Eduard	Boy	Rich guard
Sion	Boy	Holy sanctuary
Caio	Boy	Rejoice; Joyful
Rodrick	Boy	Famous ruler
Taran	Boy	Thunder; A raft; A boat; Crossing over
Jerrell	Boy	Ruler of the spear
Rhydian	Boy	Red; Crossing
Devaughn	Boy	Little black one; Little stag; Little ox; Of Devonshire
Alwyn	Boy	Wise friend; Elf friend; River Alwen

Maxen	Boy	Greatest
Dyllan	Boy	To tide; To flow
Tomi	Unisex	Twin; Wealth; Abundance; Capital; Beautiful
Griffith	Boy	Lord; Prince
Mattox	Boy	Son of the fortunate one
Avon	Boy	River
Kaedon	Unisex	Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Strength; Gentle; Loyalty; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán
Edris	Boy	Ardent lord; Wealthy king; Interpreter
Hari	Boy	Brown; Yellow; Tawny; Hindu god Vishnu; Lion; Horse; Monkey; To shine; Ruler of the home; High
Kaidon	Unisex	Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán

Madix	Unisex	Son of Madoc; Good fortune
Saiyr	Unisex	Carpenter
Macsen	Boy	The greatest one
Arwin	Boy	White; Fair; Blessed; People's friend
Corbett	Boy	Raven; Little crow
Vaughn	Boy	Little
Hughes	Boy	Fire; Inspiration
Kamber	Unisex	The people
Bran	Boy	A raven; A blackbird that resembles a crow
Elwyn	Boy	Friend of the elves; Noble friend; Old friend

Race	Boy	Competition; Ardor
Vonn	Unisex	Little
Caron	Boy	Name of a town; Beloved; Friend
Emyr	Boy	King; Lord; Prince; Commander
Gaven	Boy	Hawk; God-send; Hawk field
Elyan	Unisex	Sun
Griff	Boy	Strong lord; Prince
Jevin	Boy	Born from the yew tree; God is gracious; Well-born; Youth
Llewellyn	Boy	Leader; Lion; Strong
Myrick	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.

breathtaking welsh baby names with meanings (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

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.