Celtic Female Names of Cornwall
Ailla — (Il-lah) from Cornish word meaning "most beautiful".
Andras — (AHN-dras) Cornish form of the ancient Celtic goddess of
victory's name, Andraste.
Arranz — (AHR-anz) from a Cornish
word for "silver".
Banallan — (bahn-AHL-en) from banal, the Cornish word for the
flower of the broom plant. A woman's blonde hair is traditionaly compared to the
brilliant yellow of the flower.
Berlewen — (ber-LEW-en) Cornish name
for the planet Venus.
Bersaba — (ber-SAH-bah) Cornish form of the
biblical name Bathsheba, popular until 18th C.
Beryan — (BER-yan)
Patron saint of St. Buryan's.
Breaca — (BRAH-kah) from Old Irish
brecc "freckled". St. Breaca traveled from Kildare, Ireland, to Cornwall
where two churches are named for her.
Bryluen — (bree-LOO-en) from
Cornish breilu "a rose".
Chesten — (CHEST-en) Cornish form of Christine. Popular in the
17th C.
Columba — (koh-LUM-ba) Latin word for "dove". Early Cornish
saint.
Conwenna — (kawn-WEN-ah) from Cornish ci (cun) "wolf,
hound" + gwen "shining, holy".
Cordelia — (kohr-DEEL-yah)
Traditional Cornish name; name of the faithful daughter in Shakespeare's King
Lear. Cordula (kohr-DOO-lah).
Cryda — (KREE-dah) from Old
Irish name, Cred. St. Creed was an Irish princess who took religious vows,
traveled, and founded several churches in Cornwall and Ireland. Creeda.
Delen — (DEL-en) from Cornish word for "petal". Dim. form
Delennyk (del-EN-uhk). Dellen.
Derowen — (der-OH-wen)
from Celtic derw "oak".
Derwa — (DER-wah) from Celtic
derw "oak". Name of early Cornish saint.
Dywana — (de-WAH-nah)
A legendary Cornish queen.
Elestren — (el-ES-tren) from laister, Cornish word for "iris".
Elowen — (el-OH-wan) from elew Cornish word for "elm".
Endelyon — (en-DEL-yon) Name of early Cornish saint.
Esyld
— (ez-EELD) from British adsiltia "she who is gazed at". Common in the
Middle Ages. Issot (i-SOT).
Gwenifer — (GWEN-i-fer) Cornish form of Welsh name Gwenhwyfar
(Guinevere). See also Jenifer.
Gwennol — (GWEN-ohl) Cornish name
of the bird "swallow".
Jenifer — (JEN-i-fer) Cornish form of Welsh name Gwenhwyfer
(Guinevere). May have meant "white-cheeked". The spelling with one 'n' is
traditional. Jennifer.
Jenifry — (JEN-i-free) Probably the
Cornish form of Welsh Gwenfrewi. St. Gwenfrewi was an early martyr saint.
Jenifree.
Jenna, Jana — (JEN-uh, JAN-uh) Early Cornish forms
of Jane, from the Norman French Jonet. Jowna (JOWN-uh or JOHN-uh).
Jowanet — (JOO-a-net) Cornish feminine form of John.
Kayna — (KAYN-ah) from Welsh cain "beautiful". Name of a 6th C.
saint born in Wales, patron of St. Keyne in Cornwall, the site of her holy well.
Kayna refused all suitors, choosing a life of religious solitude. In folk
tradition, the first one of a married couple to drink from her well will
dominate the relationship. Keyne (KAYN).
Kelyn — (KEL-uhn)
Cornish word for "holly".
Kensa — (KEN-zah) from a Cornish word
meaning "first".
Kerenza, Kerensa — (ke-REN-zah) Cornish for "love,
affection".
Kerra — (KER-ah) Cornish word for "dearest".
Lowenek — (loh-EN-ek) from Cornish lawenes "happiness, joy".
Mabyn — (MAB-uhn) from British mab "son, boy". Name of a 6th C.
Cornish saint.
Manacca — (ma-NAH-kah) Early Cornish saint and abbess,
sister of St. Seleven.
Mariot — (mah-REE-ot) Cornish nickname for
Mary.
Marya — (mah-REE-ah) Cornish form of Mary.
Melwyn — (MEL-win) from Cornish mel "honey" + gwen
"shining, holy".
Melyonen — (mel-YOHN-en) from Cornish word for the
flower "violet".
Melyor — (MEL-yohr) from Cornish mel "honey".
Very old name that was popular in 17th C. and 18th C. Meliora
(mel-YOHR-ah).
Morgelyn — (mohr-GEL-in) Cornish word for "sea holly".
Morvoren — (mohr-VOHR-en) Cornish word for "mermaid".
Morwenna — (mohr-WEN-ah) from Cornish mor "sea" + gwen
"shining, holy". St. Morwenna's Feast day-July 5.
Morwennol —
(mohr-WEN-ol) from Cornish mor "sea" + gwennol "sparrow". Bardic
name of Phoebe Proctor, a Cornish writer.
Nessa — (NES-ah) Cornish for "second".
Newlyna —
(noo-LEE-nah) Name of an early saint.
Nonna — (NAW-nuh) Patron saint
of Altarnon and Pelynt. Nonna is especially revered in Wales and Brittany as the
mother of St. David, patron saint of Wales.
Rozen — (ROH-zen) Cornish word for "rose".
Rozenwyn —
(roh-ZEN-win) Cornish for "shining rose": rozen + gwyn "bright,
shining".
Senara — (ze-NAH-rah) An early saint, patron of Zennor.
Sevi — (ZEV-ee) Cornish word for "strawberry".
Talwyn — (TAHL-win) from tal "forehead" + gwyn "bright,
shining".
Tamara — (tah-MAHR-ah) Name of the goddess of the river
Tamar, the traditional boundary between England and Cornwall.
Tamon —
(TAM-on) from Cornish word for the plant "sea-pink". Bardic nameof Mary Truran,
youngest person to become a member of the Cornish Gorsedh of the Bards.
Tamsyn — (TAM-zuhn) Medieval Cornish feminine dim. of Thomas. Popular
until 18th C., then fell out of use, but making a comeback.
Teca —
(TEK-ah) Cornish word for "fairer".
Tressa — (TRES-ah) Cornish word
for "third".
Wilmot, Wylmet — (WIL-met) Cornish feminine form of William. Popular until after the 18th C., but making a comeback.
Ygerna — (ig-AYR-nah) Cognate with Welsh eigr "fair maiden". Name of King Arthur's mother, who was the wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. Igerna.
Zethar — (ZETH-ahr) Cornish word for "seagull".