Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Selecting an ideal baby name may not be easy since you must pick a name that doesn’t just sound rhythmic and beautiful but also carries profound meanings and stands the test of time, much like Welsh baby names. With the red dragon on the national flag and majestic castles on the coastline, Wales has attracted a newfound interest in recent years, thanks to its baby names. A small country in the UK and the homeland of Arthurian legends, Welsh baby names originate in the Celtic language, which has evolved to a great extent over the centuries. Welsh heritage boasts names of ancient lineage, stretching back to thousands of years. The mother tongue of Wales may sound a bit harsh and disjointed to the ears, but the names are poetic and roll down the tongue smoothly. In ancient times, Welsh people followed a patronymic naming system. Patronymics is the process of giving the child his father’s given or forename as the first name. Hence, the family name changed in successive generations. A son's identity was tied to their father's name, adorned with "ap" or "ab." This tradition for daughters involved adding "ferch" or "verch," denoting their paternal lineage. At the turn of the 15th century, Welsh families began adopting permanent surnames, and the patronymic naming pattern ended. But the range of Welsh surnames is quite small, primarily due to the reduction in baptismal names after the Protestant Reformation. Parents are free to bestow any desired name or surname upon their children, with the father’s surname more commonly used than the mother’s. However, the registrar's authority is limited to rejecting names deemed unlawful, such as those with racist connotations.
Our list provides extensive Welsh name options, guiding you with the gender and meaning of each name. Ranging from timeless classics to undiscovered modern treasures, we're here to assist in discovering an ideal name for your child.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Caraf |  |  Girl | A feeling of love |
| Carantoc | |  Boy | A man of many virtues |
| Carantorivs | | Boy | He has many virtues |
| Cariad | |  Unisex | A darling and beloved person |
| Caron | | Boy | One who loves to love |
| Caronie | | Boy | One who loves |
| Caroun | | Boy | Born to love |
| Caru | | Unisex | A lovely person |
| Carwyn | | Boy | A blessed love |
| Carys | | Boy | To love; Beloved; God's grace |
| Cass | | Boy | A curly haired person |
| Cassadee | | Girl | A woman with curly hair |
| Cassady | | Girl | A curly haired girl |
| Catreena | | Girl | A pure woman |
| Ceinwen | | Girl | A precious gem; a fair, blessed one |
| Ceiridwen | | Girl | A fair woman |
| Ceiriog | | Boy | Name of a river |
| Ceiro | | Boy | The loved one |
| Cellan | | Unisex | Elated; Joyous |
| Celt | | Unisex | A musical and exotic name |
| Celtic | | Unisex | Musical |
| Celyn | | Unisex | Holly |
| Ceolwald | | Boy | King; Beloved |
| Cerda | | Boy | Awesome hair |
| Ceredig | | Boy | The one who cherishes |
| Ceredwyn | | Girl | Goddess of poetry; the fair one |
| Ceretic | | Boy | The one who cherishes |
| Ceri | | Girl | The one who loves |
| Ceridwen | | Girl | Goddess of poetry; the fair one |
| Cerie | | Girl | A delicate bird's whistle |
| Ceris | | Girl | Charity; the beloved one |
| Cerridwen | | Unisex | Goddess of rebirth and transformation |
| Cerys | | Girl | A lovely individual |
| Challis | | Unisex | Shawl |
| Charlie | | Unisex | Free man; Army |
| Cheryl | | Girl | Beloved; Darling; Cherry fruit; Green mineral; Free person |
| Cheryle | | Girl | A Cherry fruit |
| Cinon | | Boy | Head; chief; leader; king |
| Coel | | Unisex | Hazel |
| Colwyn | | Boy | A river situated in the country of Wales |
| Croy | | Boy | Derived from Gaelic word for crooked |
| Crwys | | Unisex | Another name of Cross; crucifix |
| Crystin | | Girl | The one who follows Christ |
| Cubert | | Boy | Legendary son of Daere. |
| Curnow | | Boy | A variant of Curnow meaning from Cornwall. |
| Cynan | | Boy | A noble Chief |
| Cyndaf | | Boy | An independent person |
| Cyndeyrn | | Boy | A well- renowned Lord |
| Cynfael | | Boy | Chief prince |
| Cynfarch | | Boy | A Chief Horse |
| Cynfran | | Boy | The Chief Crow |
| Cynwal | | Boy | Defensive; To protect |
| Daafi | | Boy | One who prevents |
| Daavid | | Boy | A beloved friend |
| Dafydd | | Boy | A beloved boy |
| Dai | | Boy | A shining individual |
| Dalldav | | Boy | A legendary son |
| Davy | | Boy | A cherished and precious individual |
| Davyn | | Boy | The dear one |
| Dei | | Boy | One who is a gift of God |
| Delcie | | Unisex | Sweet; Pleasant |
| Delia | | Girl | Jewel of the sea |
| Delwin | | Boy | Friend of the valley |
| Delyth | | Girl | A neat, efficient, and pretty being |
| Deryn | | Unisex | Bird |
| Deverell | | Boy | From the river bank |
| Devona | | Girl | Feminine; Ancient; Unique |
| Dewey | | Unisex | Beloved; Adored one |
| Dil | | Girl | A reliable and faithful human being |
| Dilan | | Boy | Heart; Compassionate |
| Dillan | | Boy | Son of the sea |
| Dillyn | | Girl | A sea; One with the goodness |
| Dilwyn | | Girl | A genuine and fair one |
| Dilys | | Girl | A genuine and perfect individual |
| Dinas | | Boy | A fort in a small city; tall |
| Dodd | | Unisex | It is used to denote a lumpish person |
| Drystan | | Boy | Full of sorrow |
| Dryw | | Boy | Wise; one who understands and learns fast |
| Duane | | Boy | Dark; Swarthy |
| Dwynwen | | Girl | A white wave of peace |
| Dyddgu | | Boy | A gentle and mild individual |
| Dylana | | Girl | Strong, determined, visionary |
| Dylann | | Boy | The vast sea; humble and nice |
| Dylis | | Girl | A true person who is also very reliable |
| Dyllis | | Girl | A perfect and reliable person |
| Dylon | | Boy | One who is a loyal Lion |
| Eather | | Unisex | Pleasant breeze; Gentle wind |
| Ebrill | | Girl | A person who is born in april; has deep desire to travel |
| Ecgwynn | | Unisex | Blessed and fair being; self assertive person |
| Edern | | Boy | The legendary son of Nudd |
| Ednowain | | Boy | A well brought up person |
| Ednyfed | | Boy | Name of a warrior |
| Efa | | Girl | The story of life; they are efficient |
| Eilir | | Girl | Butterfly; one who is spontaneous and alluring |
| Eilonwy | | Girl | Valued friend; One who is happy and wealthy |
| Eiluned | | Girl | A perfect image or an idol |
| Eilwyn | | Boy | An old friend with a white brow |
| Einion | | Boy | Anvil; they are very generous |
| Eira | | Girl | One who has the purity and simplicity of snow |
| Eirian | | Girl | Silver; a bright and beautiful being |
Welsh baby names reflect distinct traits and the undeniable charm of Wales' language and culture. Over time, English neighbors' influence has led to anglicized variations, streamlining pronunciation or spelling. These names testify to parents' wish to instill confidence in their child’s identity and connect them to their roots. You may pick a name aligned with your taste, to present your child with a timeless name representing the class and legacy of Welsh history and tradition.
Infographic: Wonderful Welsh Baby Names For Your Little Star
Wales is a land of rich history, mythology, and ancient legends. Names with Welsh heritage have profound meaning, and their distinct sound and spelling ensure it's a memorable choice, giving a unique identity to the bearer. Our infographic presents traditional and contemporary Welsh-origin names, so go ahead and pick a suitable one for your cherished little one.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a traditional Welsh name?
There are several traditional names in Welsh culture for both boys and girls. Dylan (meaning son of the sea), Bedwyr (meaning Legendary son of Pedrawd), Cadwgan (battle glory), and Emrys (meaning immortal) are some traditional boy names. Some traditional feminine names include Angharad (meaning much loved), Ceridwen (meaning blessed poetry), Rhiannon (meaning great queen), and Gwendolen (meaning blessed ring).
2. Which Welsh name means grace?
Carys is a feminine Welsh name that means ‘grace.’ There are several Welsh names that mean the grace of God, including Sianna, Siana, Siandrah, and Evan.
3. Which Welsh name means Lily?
Lily is a common floral name for girls, and the Welsh version is spelled as Lili.
4. What are some Welsh baby names that are difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers?
Welsh names can be difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers because it is a phonetic language. They include Blodeuwedd meaning ‘flower face,’ Creiddylad meaning ‘jewel of the sea,’ Gwawrddydd meaning dawn, Myfanwy meaning ‘my fine’ or ‘rare one,’ Siwan, which is the Welsh form of Joan, Cynddelw meaning ‘high’ or ‘exalted,’ Llefelys meaning ‘sweet voice,’ and Ynyr which is the Welsh form of the name Honorius.
5. What are some Welsh baby names that have a connection to Welsh mythology or folklore?
Arawn is a masculine name with connections to Welsh mythology. It is the name of the Mythical king of the Underworld. Bedwyr is a variation of the Bedivere and is found in the Arthurian legends; he was one of the original companions of King Arthur. Gwenhwyfar is the Welsh form of the name Guinevere, who was the beautiful wife of King Arthur from the Arthurian legend.
