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 | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | |
Gry | Girl | Dawn; Charming; Lovely; Beautiful; Gorgeous; Shy like the dawn | |
Gryffen | Boy | Strong lord | |
Gryffyn | Boy | A Cornish form of the Welsh name Griffith; Lord | |
Gryffyth | Boy | Strong grip | |
Gryphon | Boy | Fighting chief; Fierceful | |
Gryta | Girl | A pearl; The beautiful one; The precious one | |
Grzegorz | Boy | Watchful | |
Guabeith | Boy | One who leads and directs others | |
Guendolen | Girl | One with a magnetic personality | |
Guenevere | Girl | Fair one | |
Guenivere | Girl | One who is a good learner | |
Guin | Unisex | Fair; Blessed | |
Guinevere | Girl | White phantom; Gentle queen | |
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 | |
Gwen | Girl | Fair; Blessed | |
Gwenaelle | Girl | White; The sign of holiness; Holy | |
Gwenda | Girl | White-browed person | |
Gwendal | Girl | White-browed person; The sign of blessings and intelligence | |
Gwendalynn | Girl | White-browed person; The sign of blessings and intelligence | |
Gwendolen | Girl | White ring | |
Gwendolin | Girl | White-browed person; The sign of blessings and intelligence | |
Gwendoline | Girl | White-browed person | |
Gwendolyn | Girl | Fair Bow; Blessed Ring | |
Gwendydd | Girl | White-browed person; The sign of blessings and intelligence | |
Gweneth | Girl | Luck; Happiness | |
Gwenever | Girl | Fair one | |
Gwenevere | Girl | Phantom | |
Gwenhevare | Girl | To be defined | |
Gwenhwyfar | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwenifer | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwenifrewi | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwenivere | Unisex | Fair queen | |
Gwenllian | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwenn | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwenna | Girl | White; Fair; Smooth; Success and cooperation | |
Gwennan | Girl | Blessed and generous; Approachable; Blessed; Good-natured | |
Gwenneth | Girl | Blessed and generous | |
Gwennol | Girl | White-fronted; The swallow; Approachable; Blessed; Good natured | |
Gwenyth | Girl | Fair; Blessed woman | |
Gwerfyl | Girl | Lively, expressive and has great verbal habits | |
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 | |
Gwir | Girl | Happy, lucky and devoted persons | |
Gwladus | Boy | A fortunate name | |
Gwladys | Girl | One who is deeply introspective and quiet | |
Gwledyr | Girl | One with a lot of capability | |
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 | |
Gwylan | Girl | Seagull | |
Gwyn | Boy | Blessed; Fair; White | |
Gwyndolin | Unisex | Fair bow; Blessed ring | |
Gwyndolyn | Girl | Blessed ring | |
Gwynedd | Unisex | Blessed; Happiness; White | |
Gwyneira | Girl | White snow | |
Gwyneth | Girl | Irish people; Band of warriors | |
Gwynevere | Girl | Fair and smooth; Smooth white | |
Gwynfael | Boy | Optimistic; Enthusiastic | |
Gwynn | Boy | Blessed, fair, white | |
Gwynne | Unisex | Fair, blessed, white | |
Gwynyth | Girl | Blessed; Fair; White | |
Haf | Girl | Summer; The warmest season | |
Hafwen | Girl | Fair summer; Summer blessed; A variant spelling is Hafwenn | |
Hanes | Unisex | A brand of clothing | |
Harbour | Unisex | Port; Refuge; Shelter | |
Harby | Boy | Son of Owen; A variant of Harbin | |
Harry | Boy | Ruler of the household | |
Haydn | Boy | Fire | |
Heddwyn | Boy | Peaceful; Fair peace | |
Heilyn | Boy | Wine bearer; Wine carrier; Wine transporter | |
Heledd | Girl | Sunshine; Sunny; Estuary; Variant spelling of Heledd | |
Helyan | Boy | Hard-working; Eccentric; Light-hearted; Young; Adept; Nice | |
Hethin | Boy | Dark-skinned; Swarthy | |
Heulwen | Girl | Sunshine; Light from the sun | |
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 | |
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.
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.