449 Welsh Baby Boy Names With Meanings

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

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• Oct 3, 2023

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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!

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Griffen	Boy	Lord who has a very strong grip on everything which is around him
Griffin	Boy	Strong Lord; Prince
Griffith	Boy	Lord who has a very strong grip on everything which is around him
Griffri	Boy	The Lord who has a very strong grip on everything around him
Grifin	Boy	The strong faith in God
Gruff	Boy	Lord; Prince
Gruffudd	Boy	Lord; Prince
Gruffydd	Boy	Lord; Prince
Grummore	Boy	The individual with a sixth sense, high energy levels, and sensitivity
Gryffen	Boy	Strong lord

Gryffyn	Boy	A Cornish form of the Welsh name Griffith; Lord
Gryffyth	Boy	Strong grip
Gryphon	Boy	Fighting chief; Fierceful
Grzegorz	Boy	Watchful
Guabeith	Boy	One who leads and directs others
Guin	Unisex	Fair; Blessed
Guto	Boy	A strong chief; A person who has the ability to lead a group with management
Gwalather	Boy	Leader
Gwayn	Boy	Hawk used as part of fight
Gwenivere	Unisex	Fair queen

Gwern	Boy	Strong will power; Determination; Imagination; Disciplined
Gwerydd	Boy	Independent and friendly
Gwidol	Boy	One with a clever mind and good decision making power
Gwilym	Boy	Strong-willed warrior, One who will protect the family, nation or public
Gwinne	Boy	Protection; One who will protect the family, nation or public; One who is ready to sacrifice for the nation
Gwion	Boy	Fair; Blessed; A person who is devoted to God or a religious reason; Consecrated
Gwladus	Boy	A fortunate name
Gwrddogwy	Boy	Idealistic; Impressive; Expressive; Inspirational
Gwrddylig	Boy	Idealistic; Impressive; Expressive; Inspirational
Gwrgant	Boy	Strong individual; Determined; Strong-willed persons

Gwrgenau	Boy	Calm; Stable; Responsible and business-minded
Gwrgeneu	Boy	Calm; Stable; Responsible and business-minded
Gwrgon	Boy	Humanitarian by nature; With a natural desire to help others
Gwrhydvawr	Boy	Of a helping nature; One who is always ready to help others
Gwriad	Boy	Ability to attain power; Highly skilled man
Gwronwy	Boy	Ability to attain power; Highly skilled man
Gwrthefyr	Boy	Systematic by nature; Ability to organize qualities; Turning dreams into reality
Gwrwystl	Boy	Man of his words; Man of solid pledge; Committed by nature
Gwyddien	Boy	Determined; Adventurous; Independent
Gwyddnerth	Boy	Ability to inspire others

Gwydion	Boy	Born of trees
Gwyn	Boy	Blessed; Fair; White
Gwyndolin	Unisex	Fair bow; Blessed ring
Gwynedd	Unisex	Blessed; Happiness; White
Gwynfael	Boy	Optimistic; Enthusiastic
Gwynn	Boy	Blessed, fair, white
Gwynne	Unisex	Fair, blessed, white
Hanes	Unisex	A brand of clothing
Harbour	Unisex	Port; Refuge; Shelter
Harby	Boy	Son of Owen; A variant of Harbin

Haydn	Boy	Fire
Heddwyn	Boy	Peaceful; Fair peace
Heilyn	Boy	Wine bearer; Wine carrier; Wine transporter
Helyan	Boy	Hard-working; Eccentric; Light-hearted; Young; Adept; Nice
Hethin	Boy	Dark-skinned; Swarthy
Hillierd	Boy	From the Yard on a Hill
Hillock	Boy	From the Small Hill
Hillocke	Boy	From the Tiny Hill
Hillyerd	Boy	From the Yard on a Hill
Hiraeth	Unisex	Longing; Nostalgia for a place or time that may not exist anymore

Hlink	Boy	From the Bank
Hlithtun	Boy	From the Hillside Town
Hywel	Boy	Eminent; Conspicuous; A variant of the name Howell
Ianto	Unisex	Gift of God
Idris	Unisex	Ardent lord
Iestyn	Unisex	Welsh version of Justin
Ifor	Boy	Archer; Bow warrior
Iri	Unisex	Strong and noble
Jabrion	Boy	One who has a bow made of yew wood
Jareth	Boy	A gentle one

Jayvyn	Unisex	Light spirit
Jenny	Unisex	White phantom
Jeston	Boy	Just and upright individual
Kai	Boy	Sea; Keeper of the keys; Shell; Pier
Kaleiah	Unisex	Unique and powerful
Kambry	Unisex	Unique, strong, and feminine
Kassy	Unisex	Pure; Shining
Kenn	Boy	The water is clear
Kennan	Boy	Little Ken; The clear water
Kenwrec	Boy	A Royal leader of a clan or a group

Kerys	Unisex	Love
Kieve	Unisex	A mythical name
Kilynn	Unisex	Strong and resourceful
Kimble	Boy	Warrior chief
Kimblyn	Boy	Royal warrior
Kraig	Boy	The name means Rock
Landric	Boy	Strong ruler; Leader
Lavaughan	Unisex	Small; A little of something
Lewallyn	Boy	A leader; One who leads others
Lewyn	Unisex	Like a lion

Llewellyn	Boy	Leader; Lion-like
Llewelydd	Boy	A leader with the bravery like a lion's
Llewelyn	Boy	Leader or lion-like
Llewyn	Boy	Like a lion
Lloyd	Boy	Gray
Llwyd	Boy	A gray haired man
Llygad	Boy	A person with gaying hair
Llyr	Boy	He came from the sea
Llywarch	Boy	A leader of the horses
Llywelyn	Boy	A person who projects a leader like image

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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)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this 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.