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
Llywernog	Boy	A place name from a town Llywernog in Wales
Locryn	Boy	Cornish form of Locrinus; Name of a region in Southeastern Britain
Lowyn	Unisex	Strength and protection
Luellyn	Boy	One who is a Lion like leader
Lugh	Boy	The shining one
Lughaidh	Boy	A shining warrior
Lyn	Boy	Lake; Pretty
Macsen	Boy	The greatest one
Maddax	Unisex	Son of Madoc
Madern	Boy	One who is lucky and fortunate

Madog	Boy	Fortunate; Good; Beneficent; Son of Madoc; A variant of Maddox
Mael	Boy	Chief; Prince
Maelgwn	Boy	A protector of battle
Main	Boy	He who is slender and thin
Manawyd	Boy	Welsh word for shoemaker's awl
Mared	Unisex	Pearl; Shining sea
Maredudd	Boy	The great lord
Marlais	Boy	Blue color
Marmaduke	Boy	Follower of Maedoc; Fortunate; Good
Marven	Boy	A sea friend

Marvyn	Boy	One who lives in the sea fortress
Maxen	Boy	Greatest
Medraut	Boy	An uncertain person; An unsure man
Meilyr	Boy	The highest authority person in the country; The ruler of the country after the king
Meredith	Boy	Great ruler
Merefin	Boy	Who belongs from the Mervin or the Sea fortress
Merehwit	Boy	An Anglo-Saxon bishop of Wells
Merideth	Boy	Strong-willed and courageous
Meridith	Boy	Great Lord
Merrick	Boy	Fame; Power; Rule

Merrion	Boy	From Merion, Wales
Merthyr	Unisex	A martyr; One who sacrifices their life
Mervan	Boy	The person who is closer to the ocean
Mervyn	Boy	The oceanic mountain
Merwin	Boy	The one who likes the water of the sea
Mihangel	Boy	Who is like the creator of the world?
Morcan	Boy	One who resides around the sea
Morcar	Boy	One who dwells near the sea
Morfarch	Boy	A sea-horse or a walrus
Morfran	Boy	Great crow; Mythical ugly demon

Morgan	Boy	Born of the sea; Sea chief
Morgann	Unisex	A person who lives near the sea
Morgen	Unisex	One who circles around the sea
Morgian	Unisex	One who takes care of the bright sea
Myrick	Unisex	Strong; Noble; Warrior
Myrl	Unisex	Blackbird; Of the Sea; A variant of Merle
Neirin	Boy	Pleasurable and well known
Ninian	Boy	Name of a famous saint
Nye	Boy	Power of a mother
Ofydd	Boy	The person always filled with the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments

Owain	Boy	A youthful individual with a charismatic personality; Eugene
Owaine	Boy	A young and noble-born person
Owein	Boy	A noble-born young individual who is like a wolf
Owen	Boy	Well-born; Noble birth
Oweyn	Boy	A noble and well-born warrior
Pedr	Boy	A solitary and thoughtful person
Pembroke	Unisex	One who lives in headland
Perceval	Boy	One of the Knights; a hero
Peredur	Boy	One who is the legendary son of Evrawg
Pice	Boy	Son of Rhys; Enthusiastic person

Powel	Boy	A son of Howell, which means the Sun
Powle	Boy	A descendant of the Sun
Price	Boy	Son of the ardent one
Prvce	Boy	An enthusiasm-filled person; Son of Rhys
Pryce	Boy	Son of the ardent one
Pryderi	Boy	Caretaker
Pwyll	Boy	A male name from the Welsh Mythology, King Pwyll
Raistlin	Unisex	Mysterious and powerful
Reece	Boy	Enthusiasm
Rees	Boy	A Boy with a fiery personality

Revelyn	Unisex	Variant of Revelin
Rhain	Boy	A spear
Rhan	Unisex	An individual who is strong and independent
Rheinallt	Boy	A ruling advice
Rheon	Unisex	Ruler or mighty king
Rhiagad	Boy	A great, respected King
Rhiryd	Boy	A repulsive, repelling ruler
Rhiwallon	Boy	The one who is the most kingly of them all
Rhun	Boy	Grand; Legendary son of Beli
Rhy	Unisex	A run; Flow

Rhydderch	Boy	One who is of the reddish brown colour
Rhyder	Unisex	Knight; Mounted warrior
Rhydian	Boy	The crimson, reddish colour
Rhyhawd	Boy	A person of crimson colour
Rhynn	Unisex	Round; Hill
Rhys	Boy	Fierce warrior
Rhysand	Boy	Enthusiasm
Rhyse	Unisex	Enthusiasm; Ardor
Rhywallon	Boy	One who is the ruler and a king of people
Riguallaun	Boy	The most kingly among all men

Rivia	Unisex	Strength; Resilience; Protector
Robers	Boy	A renowned and glowing man
Romney	Boy	Curving river; From the broad river
Rooney	Boy	A Boy with red, ginger hair
Ryn	Boy	A person who is a ruler
Sayre	Boy	Occupational name; Carpenter
Seisill	Boy	He who is born sixth
Seith	Boy	Seven
Selwynne	Boy	One who is fair
Sion	Boy	One who is gracious like god

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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)

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.