Celtic Male Names of Wales
Unless otherwise noted, all meanings are from Middle Welsh.
Aberthol "sacrifice".
Accalon a champion from Gaul and
the lover of Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian sagas. They plotted to steal
Excalibur, but Merlin helped Arthur to beat Accalon in battle.
Adda
Welsh version of Adam, "of the red earth".
Addolgar
"devout".
Adwr "coward".
Aedd from the Irish
aedh "fire"; also a name of a king of Ireland. Shortened form of
Aeddan.
Aeddan Welsh form of Aidan.
Aglovale son of King Pellinore, who Lancelot accidentally killed
when Lancelot rescued Guinevere.
Alawn "harmony".
Albanwr "one from Scotland".
Alun Welsh; possibly
cognate of Alan. Also a river name in Wales spelled Alyn.
Alwyn Welsh version of Alvin, "friend of all"; also the name
of a river in Wales.
Amaethon name of the son of the goddess Donn
in Welsh legends.
Amerawdwr from a word meaning "emperor".
Amhar name of a son of Arthur in obscure Welsh legends.
Amlawdd name of the father of Goleuddydd in Welsh tales.
Amren name of the son of Bedwyr in Welsh Arthurian sagas.
Amynedd "patient". Amyneddgar.
Andreas Welsh
form of Andrew. Andras.
Aneirin "honorable" or "golden"; of
uncertain original derivation. Original form Neirin, with the "A" added
in the 13th C; may be derived from Irish Gaelic nαri "noble, modest". The
name also appears in Welsh mythology. Aneurin (modern form), pet form
Nye.
Anfri "disgrace".
Angawdd name of the son
of Caw in legends.
Angor form the Welsh word for "anchor".
Anir listed as a son of King Arthur in the sagas; vaguely hinted in
the stories that he was killed by Arthur and buried in Wales at Licat Amir.
Amr.
Anwar "wild".
Anwas name of the father of
Twrch in ancient legends.
Anwell from the word for "beloved".
Anwil.
Anwir "liar".
Anynnawg legendary name of
the son of Menw.
Anyon from the Welsh word for "anvil".
Ap- one of the prefixes used to denote "son of", as is "O" in
Ireland and "Mac" in Ireland and Scotland.
Arawn (AR-awn) in
mythology, the god of Annwn (an-OON), the Underworld, but not associated with
terror or eternal punishment. It later became the underground kingdom of the
dead.
Ardwyad "protector".
Arglwydd from the word
meaning "lord".
Arian "silver"; masculine version of Arianrhod.
Arianwyn (ah-ree-AHN-win) from Welsh arian "silver" +
gwyn "shining, holy".
Arthur (AHR-thir) from Celtic
artos "bear", poss. from Latin name Artorius. Name of the legendary king
and culture hero of the Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons. Arthwr, Arthvawr.
Arvel "wept over".
Avagdu "utter darkness"; son of the
goddess Cerridwen and god Tegid Foel. Afagddu, Morfran (great crow).
Avaon in Welsh tradition, the name of Taliesin's son.
Awstin from the Welsh word for "august"; also a version of
Austin, a contracted form of the Latin Augustinus.
Baddon "one from Baddon".
Barri (BAHR-ee) prob. from
Welsh bar "mound, summit, dune"; perhaps from the word for "boar". Island
of Barry off Glamorgan coast is named for the 6th C. hermit, St. Barri, who took
refuge there. The island became a popluar pilgrimage destination after his
death.
Barris "son of Harry". Barrys.
Baudwin
one of the later Knights of the Round Table, he came from Brittany ans was a
very skilled surgeon. He survived the battle of Camlan, and became a hermit.
Beda Welsh version of Bede, a famous monk and historian.
Bedwyr name of one of King Arthur's companions to whom he sometimes
entrusted Excalibur.
Bedyw name of the son of Seithved in legends.
Beli name of an Irish sun god (Bel), also known in Wales. In later
tales, Beli was the brother-in-law of the Virgin Mary. The original Beli was
connected closely with the druids and their rituals. Beltane is his festival,
May 1. Beli Mawr, Belenus, Belinus.
Bellieus a Knight of the
Round Table who fought Lancelot over an incident with his wife.
Benedigeidfram "blessed"; applied to the god Bran. A giant in Welsh
mythology, Bran the Blessed was brother to the goddess Branwen.
Bercelak known as the Green Knight in Arthurian stories.
Berth name of the son of Cadwy in legends.
Berwyn the
son of Kerenhyr in ancient tales.
Beven "son of Evan" or
"youthful".
Blair "place". Blayre, Blaire.
Blaise
Merlin's mysterious teacher, he lived in Northumberland.
Blathaon
legendary name of the son of Mwrheth.
Bleddyn (BLETH-in)
from Welsh blaidd "wolf" + dim. suffix -yn. Related Welsh wolf
names: Bledri (BLED-ree): blaidd + rhi "king". The slang
name Wolf was applied to both warriors and outlaws in Wales.
Bledri
(BLED-ree) from Welsh blaidd "wolf" + rhi "king" = "leader of the
warriors or outlaws".
Bleidd (BLAYTH) "wolf".
Bleiddian
(BLATH-yahn): blaidd "wolf" + -ian, verbal ending, "one who
goes wolfing, i.e. looting, raiding".
Bogart "bof" or "marshland";
a name in both Ireland and Wales.
Bors son of the king of Benoic
and cousin to Lancelot. He was one of the best Knights of the Round Table along
with Galahad and Perceval.
Bowen "son of Owen". Bowie, Bowe.
Brac "free".
Brad from the word for "treason".
Bradwen name of the son of Moren in ancient legends.
Bradwr "traitor"; variant of Brad.
Braen
"corrupt".
Bran (BRAN) from Welsh for "raven" or "crow". Famous
bearer-Bran Bendigeidfran (Bran the Blessed) in the Second Branch of the
Mabinogi.*
Brastias originally a knight in Cornwall, he was
one of Arthur's captains, and later Warden of the North.
Brathach
name of the son of Gwawrddur in old tales.
Brian legendary name of
the son of Turenn.
Brice "alert".
Broderick "son of
the famous ruler". The name ap-Roderick appears often, signifying "son of
Roderick".
Bryn (BRIN) from Welsh for "hill". Popular for boys.
Brynn, Brynley, Brinley (BRIN-lee).
Brys legendary name of
the son of Brysthach.
Bwlch name of the son of Cleddyv Kyvwlch in
old tales.
Cadarn "strong".
Caddoc "battle-sharp" or "eager for
war".
Cadell from a word meaning "spirit of the battle" or
"battler".
Cadellin name of the son of Gweir in legends.
Cadeyrn (KAHD-ayrn) from Welsh cad "battle" + teyrn
"prince".
Cadfael (KAHD-file or KAHD-vil) either from words
cad "battle" + ban "summit", or cad + mael "prince".
Cadfan, Cadoc.
Cadfan (KAHD-vahn) from Welsh cad
"battle" + ban "summit". 6th C. saint associated with a healing well.
Cadman "warrior". Cadmon.
Cadoc (KAHD-ok) from
Welsh cad "battle". Originally a nickname for Cadfael. Cadoc was the name
of one of the most important Welsh saints. St. Cadoc was carried on a cloud to
Northern Italy, where he became a bishop and was martyred.
Cadwaladr
(kahd-WAHL-ah-der) from Welsh cad "battle" + gwalar "ruler,
leader". 7th C. saint and ruler of northern kingdom of Gwynedd.
Cadwallen "battle dissolver".
Cadwgawn legendary name
of the son of Iddon.
Cadwr name of the son of Gwryon in old tales.
Cadyryeith "well-spoken".
Caer Llion "one from
Caerleon (Castle of the Lion)".
Caerwyn (KIR-win or KAYR-win) from
Welsh caer "fort" + gwyn "shining, holy".
Cai (KAY)
Usu. derived from Latin name Caius, poss. similar with Irish cai (coi)
"path, way"; other sources say it means "rejoicer". Cai was described as King
Arthur's closest companion. In the 10th C. poem, Pa gur yw y porthawr,
Cai killed nine witches and rid the island of Anglesey of a fierce monster call
the Palug Cat. Cei, Caius, Caw.
Cain "clear water".
Cairn the Welsh word for a pile of stones used as a landmark.
Carne.
Calcas name of the son of Caw in legends.
Calder "brook or stream".
Caledvwich the name of
Excalibur in Welsh legends.
Cane from a Welsh word for "beautiful".
Kane.
Cant "white". Kent.
Caradawg name
of Eudav's father in old tales.
Caradoc "beloved". Craddock,
Cradoc.
Carey "from the castle". Cary, Caerau.
Carnedyr legendary name of the son of Govynyon.
Cas
name of the son of Seidi in legends.
Casnar name of a nobleman in
old tales.
Casswallawn according to legends, the name of the son of
Beli.
Caw a name from old legends.
Cedric "bountiful".
Cei possibly derived from a word meaning "fiery", others believe it
means "keeper of the keys". Kai, Kay, Kei.
Ceith
"wood-dweller" or "dwells in the woods". Keith, Keath, Keithon.
Ceithin name of the uncle of Lugh in old tales.
Celyn
(KEL-in) Welsh word for "holly". Celyn ap Caw (son of Caw) was a member of
Arthur's court in the medievel tale Kulhwch and Olwen. Kelyn.
Cenn "clear water". Kenn.
Cenyon "from Ennion's
mound". Kenyon.
Cerdic "beloved". Ceredig.
Ceri (KER-ee) Name of two rivers, one in Dyfed and on in Glamorgan.
May come from Welsh caru "to love"; male or female name.
Cerwyn (KER-win) possibly means "black" or "white".
Cian
(KEE-an) possibly from Welsh ci (cwn) "hound, wolf", or from Old Irish
cian "ancient, enduring". Cian is known as on of the five Cynfeirdd,
founding poets of Welsh tradition, although none of his poems have survived.
Kian.
Cilydd legendary name of Celyddon's son.
Kilydd.
Clud "lame".
Clust name of the son of
Clustveinydd in legends.
Clyde "loud voiced", "heard from afar", or
"warm". Clywd.
Cnychwr name of the son of Nes in old tales.
Coed "dwells in the woods".
Colgrevance a Knight of
the Round Table who was slain when the Knights tried to capture Lancelot while
he was in Guinevere's chamber.
Collen (KOLH-en) Welsh word
for "hazel tree". Name of a 6th C. saint.
Colwyn name of a Welsh
river.
Conwy (CON-oo-ee) personal name from the river in northern
Wales, from the Irish Gaelic name Connmhaighe, "hound of the plain".
Corryn "spider".
Cradelmass a king of north Wales whom
Arthur defeated at tge start if his reign.
Crist from the word
"Christian".
Cubert lengendary name of the son of Daere.
Culhwch (COOL-oo) son of Kilydd in old tales.
Culvanawd
name of the son of Gwryon in old tales.
Custenhin legendary name
of Erbin's father.
Cymry (KUM-ree) "from Wales"; the Welsh people's
name for themselves.
Cynan (KUHN-ahn) from Celtic kuno
"great, high". Popular in Medieval Wales. Kynan, Kynon.
Kynon is the name of Clydno's son in ancient tales.
Cynbal "warrior chief". Cynbal.
Cyndrwyn
legendary name of Ermid's son. Kyndrwyn.
Cynedyr name of the
son of Hetwn in legends. Kynedyr.
Cynlas name of Kynan's son
in old tales. Kynlas.
Cynwal name of one of Caw's sons.
Kynwal.
Cynwyl name of a very early Welsh saint.
Kynwyl.
Cystennin from the word "constant".
Dafydd (DAH-vith) "dearly beloved"; Welsh form of
David. St. David is patron saint of Wales. Nicknames: Dafi
(DAH-vee); Dai (DII); Deian (DAY-an); Deio (DAY-oh);
Dewi (DE-wee).
Dagonet name of King Arthur's jester, who was
made a knight and excelled in bravery during many tournaments.
Dalldav son of Cunyn Cov in old legends.
Daned son of
Oth in old tales.
Davis "son of David"; variant of Dafydd.
Deiniol (DAYN-yol) Welsh form of Daniel. St. Deiniol was
active in late 6th C. in N. Wales.
Deverell "from the riverbank".
Dewey "beloved"; form of David.
Digon son of
Alar in old tales.
Dillan "faithful"; form of Dillon, Dylan.
Dillus legendary name of the Eurei's son.
Dilwyn
"shady place". Dillwyn.
Dinadan a Knight of the Round Table
who had a sense of humor, and loved to play jokes on the other Knights. He was
later killed by Mordred.
Dirmyg legendary name of one of Caw's
sons.
Drem "sight".
Dremidydd the father of Drem in
old tales.
Drew "wise". Dru, Dryw.
Druce "son
of Dryw". Drywsone.
Drudwas name of Tryffin's son in old
tales.
Drwst obscure name from Welsh tales.
Drych
legendary name of the son of Kibddar.
Drystan Welsh version of
Tristan, "full of sorrow".
Duach name of Gwawrddur's son in
old legends.
Dylan (DIL-un or DUHL-an) Welsh word for "ocean, sea,
the deep". In Mabinogi, Dylan eil Ton (Sea Like a Wave) was a son of
Arianrhod. Welsh-born 20th C. poet Dylan Thomas was one of the finest English
language poets. Dillan, Dillon.
Dyvynarth legendary name of
the son of Gwrgwst.
Dyvyr name of Alun's son in ancient stories.
Dywel legendary name of the son of Erbin.
Earwine "white river". Erwyn.
Ector Ector of the
Forest Sauvage was Arthur's foster father in the Arthurian sagas.
Edern name of the son of Nudd in legend.
Edmyg
"honor".
Ehangwen a name from old legends.
Eiddoel
name of Ner's son in old tales.
Eiddyl name of unknown meaning in
legends.
Eiladar legendary name of Penn Llarcan's son.
Einion "anvil". Einian.
Eiryn name of Peibyn's
son in old stories.
Eivyonydd a name out of old tales.
Elis (EL-is) Welsh form of Elijah, from Greek Elias.
Ellis (ELHis).
Elphin name of the son of Gwyddno in
old legends; in Taliesin stories, he rescued the infant Gwion Bach, later named
Taliesin, from a salmon weir.
Emhyr "ruler". Emyr.
Emlyn (EM-lin) from Latin aemilianus "flattering, charming";
some sources say "waterfall".
Emrys (EM-rees) Welsh form of English
Ambrosius, from Greek Ambrosios "immortal"; Emryus was an epithet
of the magician and poet Myrddin (Merlin).
Ennissyen a giant
Welshman related to Bran the Blessed and started the war with the Irish, which
led to the death of Branwen and her son.
Eoin "young warrior"; form
of Evan.
Erbin legendary name of Custinhin's son.
Ergyryad name of one of Caw's sons in old tales.
Ermid
name of the son of Erbin in legends.
Eryi "from Snowdon".
Eudav son of Caradawg in ancient stories.
Eurosswydd
name in old Welsh tales.
Eus name of Erim's son in legends.
Evan (EV-ahn) Welsh form of John. Ioan (YOH-ahn);
Ianto (YAHN-toh); Iwan (YEW-ahn); Eoin, Ieuan (YAY-ahn).
Evnissyen (ev-NESS-yen) "lover of strife". Half-brother of god Bran
in ancient legends.
Evrawg "from York".
Evrei name out
of old stories.
Fercos name of Poch's son in old legends.
Fflam
legedary name of the son of Nwyvre.
Fflergant legendary naem of one
of Brittany's kings.
Fflewdwr name of the son of Naw in old
stories.
Ffodor son of Ervyll in old tales.
Ffowc "of
all the people".
Ffransis (FRAWN-sis) Welsh form of Francis.
Nickname Frank is Ffranc in Welsh.
Fychan "small".
Fyrsil version of Virgil, "bears the staff". Fferyll.
Galahad illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine; a pure knight who
surpassed his father's deeds of valor and died when he saw the Holy Grail.
Galehodin Lancelot's brother; he became the Duke of Saintongue.
Gamon a name from old stories.
Gandwy a name in
ancient legends.
Garanhon legendary name of Glythvyr's son.
Gareth (GAHR-eth) from Welsh gwaraidd "civilized, gentle";
other sources have the meaning "powerful with the spear" from an Anglo-Saxon
word. Tennyson used the name for a knight of King Arthur's in his Idylls of
the King.
Garnock "dwells by the alder tree river".
Garselid a name from old legends.
Garwyli name of
Gwyddawg Gwyr's son in old legends.
Garym a name from old stories.
Gavin "white hawk" or "hawk of the battle".
Gawain a
Knight of the Round Table, and a son of Lot and Morgause of Orkney. He was also
known as Gwalchmai, "Hawk of May".
Geraint (GER-iint) from
Celtic Gerontios similar to Greek gerontius "old". Geraint mab
Erbin was hero of a medieval Welsh romance. A knight of the Round Table,
renowned for his prowess in tournaments, the way he won his wife Enid. Also said
to have beeen the king of Cornwall. A Welsh elegy to Geraint mab Erbin dates c.
900, and also mentioned as a warrior in the Gododdin.
Gerallt
(GER-alht) Welsh form of Gerald.
Gerwin "fair
love". Gerwyn.
Gethin (GETH-in) from Welsh cethin
"dark, dusky". Geth.
Gilbert legendary name of the son of
Cadgyffro.
Gildas (GIL-dahs) 6th C. monk and saint Gildas was the
author of De excidio Britanniae (The Destruction of Britain), in which he
blamed his fellow Welsh for allowing Anglo-Saxons to overrun Britain. St. Gildas
venerated in Brittany as St. Gweltas and credited there for performing numerous
miracles.
Gilvaethwy name of one of the goddess Donn's sons. He
lusted after his Uncle Math's virgin foot-holder and caused a war between
Gwynedd and Dyfed in an attempt to get her. His punishment was to undergo
shapeshifts into various animals, and to bear young.
Gleis
legendary name of Merin's son.
Glendower "one ofr Glyndwer".
Glyndwer.
Glew name of Ysgawd's son in old stories.
Glewlwyd Arthur's gatekeeper in the Culhwch and Olwen myth.
Glinyeu name of Taran's son in legends.
Glyn (GLIN)
"one who lives in the glen or valley"; from Welsh glyn "valley".
Glythvyr a name in ancient tales.
Gobrwy name of Echel
Pierced Thighs in old stories.
Gofannon on of the goddess Donn's
sons. He was a god of blacksmiths and the equal of the Irish Goibniu.
Gogyvwlch a legendary name of unknown meaning.
Goreu
legendary name of one of the sons of Custinhin (or Custennin) and an unnamed
woman who was Igraine's sister.
Gorlois the Duke of Cornwall and
Igerna's husband, the woman whom Uther Pendragon coveted. Father of Morgan,
Morgause, and Elaine.
Gormant name of Rica's son in old tales.
Goronwy (gohr-ON-wee) from Welsh gwr "man". Goronwy Owen
(1723-1769) was an 18th C. Welsh language renaissance poet; emigrated to the
colonies and died in Virginia. Also Goronw (gohr-ON-oo); Gronw
(GROHN-oo).
Gorsedd "from the mound".
Govan name of
one of Caw's sons in old legends.
Govannon son of the goddess Donn
in old legends; he was a smith-god.
Govynyon a name from old
legends.
Gowerr "pure".
Gowther a hero in Arturian
tales who tames his savage disposition by penances.
Granwen name of
one of Llyr's sons in legends.
Greid legendary name of Eri's son.
Greidyawl obscure name from old tales.
Griffin
(GRIFF-in) from the mythological beast. From Welsh cryf "strong" +
udd "lord". Several medieval rulers bore Gruffudd, a variant.
Griffith (GRIF-ith) from Welsh cryf "strong" +
udd "lord"; possibly also "red-haired". Gruffudd, Gruffydd.
Griflet name of one of the first Knights; King Arthur accepted him
even though he was very young.
Gromer a powerful shapeshifter and
magician who captured Arthur in the story of Gawain and Dame Ragnell.
Gronw Pebr lover of Blodeuwedd, and rival of Llew.
Gruddyeu name of Muryel's son in legends.
Gruffen
"fierce lord". Gruffyn.
Guinglain only legitimate son of
Gawain and Lady Ragnall; a Knight of the Round Table, and killed by Lancelot.
Gusg legendary name of Achen's son.
Gwalchmei "Hawk of
May" or "hawk of the battle". Legendary name of Gwyar's son. Gavan, Gaven,
Gavin.
Gwalhaved name of one of Gwyar's sons in old legends.
Gwallawg name of Llenawg's son in old tales.
Gwallter
Welsh version of Walter, "strong fighter".
Gwarthegydd name of one
of Caw's sons in old legends.
Gwawl legendary name of Clud's son;
at one time betrothed to the goddess Rhiannon before she married Pwyll.
Gwern "old". The name of Branwen's son by Irish King Matholwch; the
infant was thrown into a fire and killed by Branwen's half-brother Ennissyen.
Gwevyl name of Gwastad's son in legends.
Gwilym
(GWIL-im) Welsh version of William.
Gwion Bach original name
of Taliesin.
Gwitart name of Aedd's son in ancient stories.
Gwrddywall legendary name of Evrei's son.
Gwres name
of Rheged's son in old tales.
Gwyddawg name of Menestyr's son in
old tales.
Gwyddno (GWITH-noh) from Welsh gwyd
"knowledge" + gno "fame".
Gwydion (GWID-yon) from Welsh
gwyd "knowledge" + -on, divine ending. Gwydion ap Don was a
powerful magician in the Mabinogi. In Welsh, Caer Gwydion
(Gwydion's Castle) is the Milky Way.
Gwydre name of one of Arthur's
sons in old legends.
Gwyglet name of a hero in the epic The
Goddoddin; he fought and died in the battle of Catreath (Catterick).
Gwyn (GWIN) from Welsh gwen, gwyn "white, shining, holy".
Gwyn ap Nudd was the leader of the Wild Hunt and the lord of lost souls.
Gwyneira (gwin-AYR-ah) from Welsh gwyn "shining, holy" +
eira "snow".
Gwynn ap Nudd began as a deity, Lord of the
Underworld and leader of the Wild Hunt. He kidnapped Creiddylad, causing a
battle with Gwythyr ap Greidawl, her betrothed. Later, he was known as King of
the Fairies and the Plant Annwn, subterranean fairies. Medieval tales say the
entrance to his kingdom is in Galstonbury Tor.
Gwyr "from Gower".
Gwythyr son of Greidyawl in old legends; also the name of the lord
of the Upperworld.
Hafgan (HAHV-gahn) from Welsh haf "summer" + can
"song"; male or female name. Name of an Otherworld deity who annually fights
Arawn for rulership of the Underworld.
Heddwyn (HETH-win)
from Welsh hedd "peace" + gwyn "shining, holy". Hedd Wynn was the
bardic name of Ellis Evans (1887-1917), a poet and soldier killed in Flanders
during WWI; and posthumously won the chair at the 1917 Eisteddfod. His life has
become a symbol of the futility of war.
Hefaidd Hen name of
Rhiannon's fahter in ancient legends, he ruled part of the Underworld.
Heilyn name of Gwynn's son in old legends.
Hen Beddestyr
legendary name of Erim's son.
Hen Was "old servant".
Hen
Wyneb "old face".
Heulfryn (HIIL-vrin) heul "sun" +
bryn "hill".
Heulyn (HIIL-een) "ray of sunshine".
Howell "remarkable" or "attentive"; "alert one". Howell.
Huw (HYOO) Welsh version of Hugh, from Old German
hugi "intelligence, spirit". Hew, Hewe, Hu.
Hydd
"deer".
Hywel (HUH-wel) from Welsh hywel "eminent". Hywel
Dda (Hywell the Good) was a 10th C. king of Wales. Made the druids' oral legal
tradition into a written code of law. Anglicized Howell.
Iago (EE-ah-goh) Welsh version of James, "god's gift" or
"supplanter".
Iau Welsh version of Zeus.
Iddawg
name of Nynyo's son in old legends.
Idris "eager lord". Idriss,
Idriys.
Iestyn Welsh version of Justin, "one who is
just".
Ieuan (YAY-an) from Latin Johannes. Ieuan is the Welsh
version of John, "god is gracious". Ioan (YOH-uhn), Iwan.
Ifor Welsh version of a Teutonic name meaning "archer".
Inek Welsh version of Irvin.
Iolo (YOH-loh)
Nickname for Iowerth. Iolo Morganwg (Iolo or Glamorgan) was the bardic
name of Edward Williams (1747-1826), stonemason, poet, scholar, and initiator of
the National Eisteddfod.
Iona name of a French king in old legends;
also the Celtic name for the Isle of Anglesey off the northern Wales coast.
Iowerth (YOH-wayrth) from Norse ior "lord" + Welsh
gwerth "value, worth". Used as the Welsh version of Edward since the
Middle Ages.
Irvin "white river". Irv, Inek, Irving.
Ithel "generous lord".
Iustig name of one of Caw's
sons in old legends.
Jestin Welsh version of Justin.
Jones "son of
John". Joenns.
Josue Welsh version of Joshua.
Lancelot du Lac son of King Ban of Benoic in France, Galahad's
father, Knight of the Round Table and an unbeatable warrior. His affair with
Queen Guinevere caused the death of many knights and the destruction of King
Arthur's kingdom.
Lavaine in old Arthurian legend, he was a young
Knight and son of Sir Bernard of Astolat. He was knighted by Lancelot and became
one of the greatest Knights of the Round Table.
Leodegrance name in
old tales given as the King of Cameliard, who was Guinevere's father.
Lionel a Knight of the Round Table, cousin to Lancelot, and brother
to Bors.
Llacheu name of one of Arthur's illigitimate sons by
Lysanor in ancient legends. Borre, Boare, Lohot.
Llara from
a word meaning "meek".
Lleu a Welsh sun god Llew Llaw Gyffes, son
of Arianrhod and an unnamed father and raised by his uncle Gwydion.
Llevelys legendary name of Beli's son.
Lloyd "one with
gray hair". Loy, Llwyd, Loyde.
Lludd "from London" or from
the god Llud Llaw Ereint (similary to Irish Nuada and Greek Neptune).
Llundein.
Llwch Llawwyanawc a warrior who went with Arthur
to retreive the great cauldron when it was stolen and taken to Annwn.
Llwybyr legendary name of one of Caw's sons.
Llwyd
(LHOO-eed) from Welsh llwyd "grey, holy". Lloyd.
Llwydeu name of Nwython's son in old stories.
Llwyr
legendary nae of the Llwyryon's son.
Llyn "from the lake".
Llyr "of the sea"; a Welsh sea and water god, similar to Irish Lir.
Listed as father of Bran and Branwen. Lear.
Llywelyn
(lhu-WEL-en) from Welsh llwy "leader, steerer" + eilun
"image". Nicknames Llelo (LHE-loh) and Llew (LHE-oo), which
is also Welsh for "lion". Llewellyn.
Lot king of Orkney and
Lothian and husband of Morgause. Lotha.
Lovel one of
Gawain's illigitimate sons who was killed by Lancelot.
Lug Welsh
version of Luke, "the bringer of light". Luc.
Mabon "the son"; name of a mysterious child in the Arthurian sagas;
he was stolen from his mother at three days old and imprisoned at Gloucester.
His story is told in Culhwch and Olwen.
Mabsant legendary
name of one of Caw's sons.
Macsen (MAK-sen) from Latin name
Maximus. Maxen Wledig (Lord Maxen) was a 4th C. Spanish-born general who
led the remnants of the Roman army out of Britain to claim the emperorship and
was briefly successful. Maxen.
Madawg name of Teithyon's son
in old legends. Madoc.
Maddock "generous".
Maddox
"the benefactor's son".
Madoc (MAH-dog) from British mad
"fortunate, lucky". In legend, Madog ap Owain Gwynedd colonized N. America in
the late 12th C.
Mael legendary name of Roycol's son.
Maelgwn (MAYL-goon) "prince of the hounds"; from Welsh mael
"divine prince" + ci (cwn) "wolf, hound". Maelgwn Gwynedd was a 6th C.
Welsh king.
Maelogan (may-LOH-gahn) "divine prince"; from Welsh
mael "prince" + -on, a divine ending. Maelon (MAY-lon).
Maelwys name of Baeddan's son in old tales.
Mallolwch
name of the legendary king of Ireland who married Branwen.
Malvern
"bare hill".
Manawydan name of sea god Llyr's son; equal to Irish
god Manannan mac Lir. He was a skilled shapeshifter and keppt the Isle of Man
and the Isle of Arran under his protection; and broke the enchantment on Dyfed.
March (MAHRX) from Welsh march "horse". Name of King
Mark in the Welsh version of the Tristan saga, in which he is known as March ap
Meirchion (Horse, Son of Horses). The horse was a symbol of kingship in Celtic
culture. Mark, Marc.
Marrock a knight who was secretly a
werewolf.
Math (MAHTH) from Celtic math "bear". According to
the Mabinogi, Math ap Mathonwy (MAHTH mahth-ON-oo-ee) was king of N.
Wales and a powerful magician; and helped creat a flower-wife for his
great-grandson Llew.
Mawrth Welsh version of Mars, a Roman
god of war.
Medyr legendary name of Medyredydd's son.
Meical (MAYK-al) Modern Welsh form of Michael. Older form
Mihangel (mi-HAHNG-el); nickname Meic (MAYK).
Melkin
a pre-Merlin prophet and poet mentioned in the Annals of Glastonbury Abbey.
Menw name of Teirwaedd's son in old tales.
Mercher
Welsh form of Mercury, Roman messenger of the gods.
Meredith
(me-RED-ith) from mawr "great, big" + udd "lord"; other sources
give the meaning "guardian from the sea". It was also the name of many medieval
Welsh princes.
Merlin "by the sea". The great sorcerer of the
Arthurian sagas; his father was from the Otherworld, his mother was earthly.
Legend says he learned all his magic from Nimue (also known as Morgan, Viviane,
Lady of the Lake, and Queen of the Fairies); old legend says he is guardian of
the Thirteen Treasures of Britain that he locked in a glass tower on Bardsey
Island. Welsh tradition says Myrddin still sleeps in a hidden crystal cave. The
Welsh name Myrddin means "hawk".
Meurig "dark skinned"; Welsh
version of Morris or Maurice.
Mil name of Dugum's son
in old tales.
Modred name of King Arthur's son by Morgause, his
half-sister. He was raised with his half-brothers, the other children of
Morgause and Lot. Arthur killed him at the Battle of Camlan. Mordred.
Moesen Welsh version of Moses, "from the water".
Mordwywr "sailor".
Morgan (MOHR-gahn) from Welsh
mor "sea" or mawr "great, big" + can "bright" or
cant "circle" or geni "born". Could mean "big circle", "bright
circle", "bright sea", or "sea-born"; or "dwells near the sea". Male or female
name. Most famous Morgan is probably Morgan la Fee, King Arthur's half-sister
and famed sorceress. Morcan, Morgant (MOHR-gahnt).
Morgannwg
"from Glamorgan".
Morthwyl from a word meaning "hammer".
Morvran name of Tegid's son.
Mostyn "fortress in a
field".
Myrddin (MUHR-din or MUHR-thin) from British
moridunon "sea fortress". Welsh source of the name is from the sorcerer
Merlin.
Naw name of Seithved's son in legends.
Neb name of one
of Caw's sons.
Nentres one of eleven kings who revolted against
Arthur; he later married Elaine and became the King's ally.
Nerth
name of Cadarn's son in old tales.
Nerthach son of Gwawrddur in
legend.
Neued legendary name of Tringad's father.
Newlin
"dwells near the new pool".
Nissyen (NESS-yen) "lover of peace";
brother of Evnissyen and his total opposite in morals and temperament. He was
also a half-brother to the god Bran.
Nodens variant of the sea god
Llud Llaw Ereint.
Nynnyaw legendary name of one of Beli's sons.
Odgar name of one of Aedd's sons.
Ofydd Welsh version
of Ovid, a Roman poet.
Ol legendary name of Olwydd's son.
Olwydd "tracker".
Oswallt Welsh version of
Oswald, "strength from god".
Owein (OH-wayn) from Latin name
Eugenius (Eugene) "well- or noble-born"; some sources list it as "young
warrior". Owain, Owen.
Padrig (PAHD-rig) Welsh form of Padraig (Patrick), "noble",
patron saint of Ireland.
Parry (PAHR-ee) from Welsh ap Harri
"son of Harry or Henry".
Pasgen (PAHS-gen) from Welsh Pasg
"Easter".
Pawl (POWL) Welsh form of Paul, "little".
Pedr (PEDR) Welsh form of Peter, "rock". Pedran
(PED-rahn), Petran (PET-rahn).
Peissawg name of a king of
Brittany in legends.
Pelles known as the Wounded King of the Grail
Castle after he was wounded through both thighs; his daughter Elaine bore
Galahad, Lancelot's son.
Pellinore brother of Pelles, King of the
Isles, and one of the greatest Knights of the Round Table.
Pellyn
"from the lake's headland".
Pembroke "headland".
Penn
"from the peak".
Pennar (PEN-ahr) from Welsh pen "head" +
ardd "hill, height".
Penvro "from Pembroke".
Perceval name of a Knight of the Round Table. Percival,
Parzival.
Peredur (per-ED-eer) Derivation uncertain, perhaps
from Welsh peri "spears" + dur "hard". Peredur mab Efrawc was the
hero of a Welsh Arthurian grail romance.
Powell "son of Howell";
name of one of the Welsh kings.
Price "son of Rhys" and "son of the
ardent one".
Pryderi (pra-DAYR-ee) In the Mabinogi, Pryderi
was stolen by a monstrous claw on the night of his birth and deposited in
Teyrnon Twrf Fliant's stable. He renamed the child Gwri Gwallt Euryn (Gwri
Golden-Hair) and raised him, until it was clear he was the missing son of Pwyll
and Rhiannon. When returned to his mother, her first words were "I would be
relieved of my care (pryder) if this were true!" So he was renamed
Pryderi.
Prydwen "handsome".
Prys (PREES) from ap
Rhys "son of Rhys". Price.
Puw Welsh version of
Pugh, "son of Hugh".
Pwyll "son of Howell"; in ancient
legends, he was the lord of Dyfed when he met Arawn, lord of Annwn, and took his
place for a year in the Otherworld.
Pyrs Welsh form of
Pierce, "stone" or "rock".
Reese "ardent one".
Ren "ruler". Ryn.
Renfrew "dwells near the still river" or "raven wood".
Rhinfrew.
Rhain (RHIIN) from Welsh rhain
"spear, lance". Rhainallt (RHIIN-alht) "hill".
Rheged legendary name of Gwres' father.
Rhett
"enthusiastic".
Rhionganedd name of a prince of Ireland in old
legends.
Rhisiart (RHISH-art) Welsh form of Richard,
"strong ruler".
Rhobert Welsh form of Robert, "brilliant,
renowned".
Rhodri (RHOD-ree) from Welsh rhod "circle"
+ rhi "ruler". Rhodri Fawr (Rhodri the Great) was an important 9th C.
king He was a renowned warrior, as well as the ancestor of many of the later
dynasties of Wales.
Rhun name of one of Beli's sons.
Rhuvawn name of Deorthach's son in legends.
Rhyawdd
name of Morgant's son in old tales.
Rhychdir "from the plow land".
Rhyd "from the ford".
Rhydderch
(RHUHTH-erx) from Welsh rhi "king" + derchafu
"ascending". Rhydderch Hael (Rhydderch the Generous) was a king of the Old North
in the 6th C. He fought alongside Urien Rheged and Morcant against the
incursions of Anglians into the area that is now southern Scotland.
Rhys (RHEES) from Welsh rhys "ardor, passion, rash".
Reece, Rice, Reis, Riess, Rhett.
Robat (ROB-at) Welsh form
of Robert. Nickname Robyn (ROB-een). The 15th C. Robyn Ddu (Black
Robin) and the 19th C. Robyn Ddu Eryri (Black Robin of Snowdonia) were noted
Welsh poets. Robet.
Romney "dwells near the curving river".
Rumenea.
Sayer from the word for "carpenter".
Seith "seven".
Saith.
Sel legendary name of Selgi's son.
Selwyn
(SEL-ween) from Welsh sel "ardor" + gwyn "shining, holy".
Selyf Welsh version of Solomon, "peace".
Selyv
name of Kynan's son in old legends.
Seren (SER-en) Welsh word for
"star". Sirona, from the same Celtic root, was an ancient Gaulish goddess
of hot springs. Male or female name.
Siam (SHAM) Welsh form of
James.
Siarl (SHARL) Welsh form of Charles, "manly".
Siawn -name of Iaen's son in old tales.
Siencyn Welsh
version of Jenkin, "god is gracious".
Sinnoch name of one of
Seithved's sons in tales.
Sion (SHON) Welsh form of John.
Sioni (SHON-ee), Sionyn (SHON-een).
Sior (SHOR) Welsh
form of George, "farmer".
Steffan Welsh form of
Stephen, "crowned with laurels".
Sugyn legendary name of
Sugynedydd's son.
Sulien (SIL-yen) from Welsh sul "sun" +
geni "born". Originally the name of a Celtic sun god. 11th C. Welsh
bishop of St. David's named Sulien was reputed to have been the most learned man
in all Wales.
Sulyen variant of Sulien; and name of one of
Iaen's sons in old tales.
Syvwlch legendary name of Cleddyv
Kyvwich's son.
Tad "father". Tadd.
Taffy "beloved".
Taliesin (tahl-YES-in) from Welsh tal "forehead, brow" +
iesin "radiant, shining". A 6th C. poet who composed pems in praise of
the heroes Owein, Urien Rheged and others.
Tarrant variant of
Taranis, a thunder and storm god, similar to Jupiter. Tarran, Taryn,
Taren, Terrant.
Tegid Foel husband of the goddess Cerridwen,
their home was under Lake Tegid.
Tegvan name of Cerridwen's son.
Teilo (TAY-loh) A 6th C. saint who founded a church at Llandeilo
Fawr in Dyfed. After his death, a dispute arose between the churces of
Llandeilo, Llandaf, and Penally on where Teilo's remains were to be kept. His
body miraculously triplicated so that no one would be left out.
Teithi name of one of Gwynnan's sons in old tales.
Teregud name of one of Iaen's sons in old stories.
Teryrnon (TAYR-non) from Celtic tigernonos "divine prince".
In the Mabinogi, Teyrnon Twrf Fliant was Pryderi's foster father.
Timotheus Welsh version of Timothy, "honors god".
Tomos (TOHM-ohs) Welsh version of Thomas, "twin". Nickname
Twm (Tom) (TOOM). Twm Sion Cati (1530-1609) was an antiquarian, poet and
outlaw, and known as the Welsh Robin Hood.
Tor natural son of King
Pellinore, who was raised by a cowheard. The truth of his ancestry came out when
he asked to be a Knight of the Round Table.
Trahern "incredibly
strong" or "strong as iron".
Trefor (TREV-ohr) from Welsh
tref "home, town" + mor "great". Name used since the 10th C.
Tremayne "lives in the house by the rock". Tremen.
Trent "dwells near the rapid stream". Trynt.
Trevelyan "from Elian's home".
Tringad legendary name
of Neued's son.
Tristan from an Old Welsh word for "noisy one";
"clamor". Confused with Tristram; Tristan is mentioned as a Knight of the Round
Table in the Arthurian sagas.
Tristram "sorrowful". The tragic tale
of Tristram (Tristan in Arthurian legend) and Isolde; he was the son of King
Meliodas and Queen Elizabeth of Lyonnesse and went to his uncle King Mark in
Cornwall after his country sand under the ocean. There, he fell in love with
Isolde, his uncle's wife, and caused a great scandal. He served King Arthur for
a time, but went to Brittany where he was mortally wounded.
Tudur
(TID-ir) from Celtic teutorigos "king of the tribe". Tewdwr ap Giffri was
a 10th C. king of Brecon. Tudur Aled was a renowned Welsh poet of the early
Tudor era. Tudor (TID-or), Twedwr (tee-OO-door).
Twrgadarn "tower of strength".
Tywysog "prince".
Uchdryd name of Erim's son in ancient tales.
Urien
traditional name of the king of the land of Gorre who was associated with the
Round Table. He married Morgan le Fay, their son was Owain.
Vaddon "from Bath".
Vaughn "small one". Vychan.
Wadu name of one of Seithved's sons in lengends.
Waljan
"chosen".
Weyland a god of smiths, said to have made Excalibur. His
name is still associated with several sites in Wales and Britain.
Wmffre (OOM-free) Welsh form of Humphrey, "friend of the
Huns". Wmmffre.
Wren "ruler".
Wynn "handsome",
"fair, white one" or "light complexion". Wyn.
Yale "fertile upland".
Yestin Welsh form of
Justin.
Ysberin name of Fflergant's son in old tales.
Ysgawyn name of Panon's son in old tales.
Yspadaden
Pencawr named as the father of Olwen in the story Culhwch and Ol.
* See the Notes page