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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 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 |
| Madrona | |  Girl | Mother Goddess |
| Madrun | | Girl | An early saint |
| Maegan | | Girl | A pearl; One who has pearls |
| Maegen | | Girl | From the name Meg; Pearl |
| Mael | | Boy | Chief; Prince |
| Maelgwn | | Boy | A protector of battle |
| Maerwynn | | Girl | One who illuminates; Joy; One who brings delight |
| Maigen | | Girl | A woman who is pure like a pearl |
| Maighdlin | | Girl | She who resembles a pearl |
| Main | | Boy | He who is slender and thin |
| Mair | | Girl | One who is bitter |
| Mairwen | | Girl | Blessed |
| Makenzi | | Girl | Daughter of a wise ruler who is born in a fire |
| Makenzie | | Girl | Son of the wise ruler |
| Mali | | Girl | Jasmine; Industrious |
| Manawyd | | Boy | Welsh word for shoemaker's awl |
| Mared | | Unisex | Pearl; Shining sea |
| Maredudd | | Boy | The great lord |
| Marged | | Girl | Welsh girl name for pearl |
| 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 |
| Maygan | | Girl | A woman like the pearl |
| Medi | | Girl | September |
| Medraut | | Boy | An uncertain person; An unsure man |
| Meeghan | | Girl | The pearl-like beauty of the woman |
| Meggan | | Girl | A pearl-like beauty |
| Meilyr | | Boy | The highest authority person in the country; The ruler of the country after the king |
| Meinir | | Girl | An unmarried girl; Maiden; A single girl living alone |
| Meinwen | | Girl | Dedicated; Fair-complexioned |
| Melangell | | Girl | The pretty messenger; Sweet and dearest angel |
| Menna | | Girl | A strong person; Strength |
| 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 |
| Merlin | | Girl | Sea; Hill fort |
| Merouda | | Girl | Derived from elements mor, which means sea, or great and budd, which means benefit, or profit |
| 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 |
| Mia | | Girl | Mine; Dear; Darling |
| Mihangel | | Boy | Who is like the creator of the world? |
| Mirain | | Girl | A beautiful girl; Someone who is calm or brings calmness |
| 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 |
| Morfydd | | Girl | Great; Sea wave |
| Morgaine | | Girl | A radiant or dazzling sea |
| Morgan | | Boy | Born of the sea; Sea chief |
| Morgana | | Girl | A girl who hails from the sea |
| Morgane | | Girl | A girl dwelling in the sea-area |
| Morgann | | Unisex | A person who lives near the sea |
| Morgayne | | Girl | One who lives near the sea |
| Morgen | | Unisex | One who circles around the sea |
| Morgian | | Unisex | One who takes care of the bright sea |
| Myfanwy | | Girl | Beloved; My woman |
| Myrick | | Unisex | Strong; Noble; Warrior |
| Myrl | | Unisex | Blackbird; Of the Sea; A variant of Merle |
| Neirin | | Boy | Pleasurable and well known |
| Nerys | | Girl | Woman; Female; Damsel |
| Nest | | Girl | Welsh accent of Agnes; Pure or virginal |
| Nesta | | Girl | Wholesome; Clean; Unpolluted; Unalloyed |
| Ninian | | Boy | Name of a famous saint |
| Noah | | Unisex | Rest |
| Nye | | Boy | Power of a mother |
| Ofydd | | Boy | The person always filled with the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments |
| Oliver | | Boy | Olive tree planter |
| Olivia | | Girl | Peace; Olive tree |
| Olwen | | Girl | One who leaves white bottom marks |
| Olwyn | | Girl | Owner of white footprints |
| Olwyne | | Girl | The one who just draws white foot prints on a track |
| Osian | | Girl | Strong and noble |
| 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 |
| Owena | | Girl | Noble born; Young warrior |
| Oweyn | | Boy | A noble and well-born warrior |
| Parry | | Girl | Son of Harry |
| 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 |
| Pheona | | Girl | Lively or joyful |
| Pice | | Boy | Son of Rhys; Enthusiastic person |
| Poppy | | Girl | Red flowering plant; Remembrance |
| Powel | | Boy | A son of Howell, which means the Sun |
| Powle | | Boy | A descendant of the Sun |
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.
