Dydd Gwyl [name_u]Dewi[/name_u] Hapus! ([name_u]Happy[/name_u] St. [name_m]David[/name_m]’s [name_u]Day[/name_u]!)
In honour of St. [name_m]David[/name_m]’s [name_u]Day[/name_u], I thought I’d share some of my favourite rare Welsh names.
My criteria to make the list:
- Cannot be in Nameberry’s database
- I cannot personally know someone with the name
- Cannot have a negative meaning (this is slightly opinion based)
- Must have a “real” meaning (many Welsh names mean “son/daughter of x”, and I haven’t included them)
I will provide pronunciations, however some vowel sounds vary in different parts of [name_m]Wales[/name_m] - these are just how I would pronounce them. I will attach a voice recording with sounds that don’t exist in [name_f]English[/name_f] (this will be the first reply). It’s also important to note that because these names are so rare, meanings may not be 100% accurate. So without further ado, on to the names!
Girls
Aelwyd (ay-lu-id; lu-id is 1.5 syllables)
Meaning: From the hearth
Asgre (ass-greh)
Meaning: Heart
[name_m]Worth[/name_m] noting that Asgre is not the Welsh word for heart, this is Calon.
Bettrys (bet-riss)
Meaning: Welsh form of [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]; brings joy
Brangwen (bran-gwen)
Meaning: There are conflicting opinions - some sites list it as meaning “dark and pure”, whereas others list it as meaning “fair raven”
Not to be confused with [name_f]Branwen[/name_f], this is a rarer alternative and a unique way to reach the nickname [name_f]Gwen[/name_f].
Caniad (can-ee-add, almost can-yad)
Meaning: Song
Ceinwen (cane-when)
Meaning: [name_f]Lovely[/name_f], blessed, fair
Creiddylad (cray-thuh-laad)
Meaning: Conflicting opinions - can be either “jewel of the sea” or “heart”
Ebrill (eh-brill, see pronunciation guide below for ll)
Meaning: [name_f]April[/name_f] (word name)
Goleuddydd (gol-ay-theeth)
Meaning: [name_u]Bright[/name_u] day
Gwanwyn (gwan-win)
Meaning: [name_f]Spring[/name_f] (the season)
Gwenhwyfar (gwen-hui-var)
Meaning: Conflicting opinions - sometimes listed as “fair and yielding”, sometimes listed as “white phantom”; is often seen as the Welsh form of [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]
Hiraeth (hee-rye-th)
Meaning: Longing
This does not have a history of usage as a given name, but I’ve seen it being suggested with the incorrect meaning/pronunciation.
Maredud (mah-red-idd)
Meaning: Magnificent
Modlen (mod-lenn)
Meaning: Welsh form of [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]; woman from [name_f]Magdala[/name_f]
Olwyna (oll-ui-nah)
Meaning: White footprint
This is a variant of the more popular [name_f]Olwen[/name_f] & [name_f]Olwyn[/name_f].
Rhedyn (rhed-in, see pronunciation guide for rh)
Meaning: [name_f]Fern[/name_f]
Talar (tah-laar)
Meaning: From the headland in the field
Terrwyn (terr-win)
Meaning: Fair and brave
Boys
Anwell (ann-well, see pronunciation guide)
Meaning: [name_f]Beloved[/name_f]
Arwystli (ah-rui-stlee)
Meaning: Good advice
Badden (bah-then)
Meaning: Boar
Bendigeidfran (ben-dee-gayd-vran)
Meaning: [name_u]Blessed[/name_u] raven
This is the name of one of the more prominent characters in the Mabinogion (essentially Welsh mythology), so the association will be strong for many Welsh people (but he is a good character).
Brac (brack)
Meaning: [name_u]Free[/name_u]
According to some sites, this name also has Arabic roots with the same meaning.
Cadawg/Caddoc (cad-owg, ow as in now/cad-ock)
Meaning: Battle sharp
These are variants of the same name, but neither are popular.
Cadwaladr (cad-wah-lah-dur)
Meaning: Battle leader
Cadyryeith (cad-uh-rye-ith)
Meaning: Well spoken
I’m having to completely guess this pronunciation as it doesn’t follow typical spelling rules.
Cradoe (crah-doy)
Meaning: [name_f]Beloved[/name_f]
Cystenian (cuss-ten-ee-ann)
Meaning: Steady, stable
Some sites list this as the Welsh form of [name_u]Constantine[/name_u].
Dynawd (duh-nowd)
Meaning: Donation
Edmyg (ed-mig)
Meaning: [name_f]Honour[/name_f]
Due to its similarity to the word admire (edmygu), it is possible that another meaning is admiration.
Einion (ay-nee-on)
Meaning: Anvil
Anvil tends to be a metaphor for strength when used in this context.
Ercwlff (ehr-coolff, oo as in book)
Meaning: Welsh form of [name_m]Hercules[/name_m]; glory of [name_f]Hera[/name_f]
Fferyll/Fyrsil (ffeh-rill, see pronunciation guide/vuhr-sil)
Meaning: Welsh forms of [name_m]Virgil[/name_m]; bears the staff
Gwernach (gwehr-nach, see pronunciation guide for ch)
Meaning: Dwells by the alder tree river
Its root name is Garnock.
Lludd (lleeth, see pronunciation guide)
Meaning: From [name_u]London[/name_u]
Maelgwyn (mail-gwin OR mile-gwin)
Meaning: [name_m]Prince[/name_m] of the hounds
Moesen (moy-sehn)
Meaning: Welsh form of [name_m]Moses[/name_m]; delivered from the water
Neifion (nay-vee-on)
Meaning: [name_u]Neptune[/name_u]
Penllyn (pen-llin, see pronunciation guide)
Meaning: From the lake’s headland
Rhychdir (rhuch-deer, see pronunciation guide for rh & ch)
Meaning: From the plow land
Tarrant (tah-rant)
Meaning: [name_u]Thunder[/name_u]
Tremen (treh-men)
Meaning: Lives in the house by the rock
Please remember that I am by no means an expert, this is just something fun I decided to do today. If the pronunciations I provided for any names weren’t clear, just let me know and I can post a voice recording. Diolch am ddarllen! (Thank you for reading!)
Thank you so much for sharing and putting together this list!
Proceeds to list ultra favourites…
