390 Timeless Welsh Boy Names For Your Son

Worthy names from Wales for your wondrous Welsh son are right here.

Written by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd Specialty: Child development & educationExperience: 5 years

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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Last Updated on Jul 24, 2024

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Welsh baby boy names have stood the test of time. These names are still used in many parts of the world today, not just in Wales. Welsh is a phonetic language with Celtic roots (1). It is commonly spoken by the people of Wales and some parts of Britain. The language can be broadly classified into four distinct periods—Primitive, Old, Middle, and Modern. These distinctions marked an evolution of the language that altered how alphabets were used, impacting the Welsh spellings and pronunciations. Welsh names are distinct because of their unique pronunciations. In the language, w and y are considered vowels, besides a, e, i, o, and u. The phonetic sounds of the alphabet also differ significantly, with w pronounced as oo, y pronounced as uh or ee depending on which syllable it is, and f pronounced as v. For instance, Dafydd would be pronounced David (1). Welsh names have a poetic beauty to them, but a little knowledge of the language is required to pronounce them correctly. Welsh people followed a patronymic naming system, meaning that the child inherits the given name or the father's first name as a last name or surname. Back in the day, the prefix ‘ab’ or ‘ap,’ meaning ‘son of,’ was inserted between the child’s given name and the patronymic name. However, with the introduction of the Act of Union in 1536, all official documents were required to be recorded in English. After this, the patronymic naming system started to dissipate (1). However, Welsh first names like Dylan, Rhys, and Owen are still quite popular among parents (2). According to data from the SSA, Dylan and Owen are well-known Welsh boy names in the US, standing at rank 41 and 18, respectively, as of 2022 (3) (4 ). We have listed a vast collection of such Welsh baby names for boys just for you. Keep scrolling!

Name	Gender	Meaning
Oliver	Boy	Olive tree planter
Logan	Boy	Little hollow
Dylan	Boy	To tide; To flow
Kai	Boy	Sea; Keeper of the keys; Shell; Pier
Evan	Boy	Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree
George	Boy	Farmer; Earth worker
Arthur	Boy	Bear king; Bear
Maddox	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate
Brandon	Boy	Prince; Chieftain; Gorse hill; Hill covered with broom
Caden	Boy	Son or descendant of Cadán; Strength; Battle spirit; Warrior

Griffin	Boy	Lord; Prince
Ellis	Boy	My God is Yahweh
Cade	Boy	Battle; Spirit of the battle; Sturdy; Round
Bowen	Boy	Son of Owen; Noble; Victorious
Rhys	Boy	Fierce warrior
Kendrick	Boy	Royal ruler; Bold Power; Chief hero; Greatest champion
Mathias	Boy	God's gift
Matthias	Boy	God's gift
Davis	Boy	Son of David; Beloved; Uncle
Reece	Boy	Enthusiasm

Morgan	Boy	Born of the sea; Sea chief
Marvin	Boy	Famous friend; Sea friend; Bone marrow; Eminent; Noble; Wish; Desire; Young goat or kid
Brendan	Boy	Fiery hill; Prince; King
Rey	Boy	King; Female roe deer
Dilan	Boy	Heart; Compassionate; Tide; Flow
Merrick	Boy	Fame; Power; Rule
Chad	Boy	Battle; Warlike; Lake; Large expanse of water
Maddux	Boy	Fortunate; Good
Denzel	Boy	Fine wine lover; The wild one; High stronghold; Fertile land
Emrys	Boy	Immortal; Divine

Cecil	Boy	Blind
Lloyd	Boy	Gray
Brenden	Boy	Prince; King; Outstanding
Brendon	Boy	Prince; King
Calder	Boy	Rocky water; Wild or rough stream
Floyd	Boy	Gray-haired
Broderick	Boy	Son of Rhydderch; Descendant of Bruadar; Brother
Marlin	Boy	Sea fort
Maddex	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good
Maddix	Boy	Son of Madoc; Fortunate; Good

Conway	Boy	Holy water
Price	Boy	Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm
Llewyn	Boy	Like a lion
Kendric	Boy	Bold power; Royal power; Chief hero; Greatest champion
Dillan	Boy	Son of the sea; Tide; Flow
Pryce	Boy	Son of the ardent one; Enthusiasm
Daylan	Boy	Toward the tide or flow
Evans	Boy	God is gracious
Jareth	Boy	A gentle one; Descent
Chadwick	Boy	Settlement belonging to battle

Trayvon	Boy	A small or little person as strong as iron
Griffen	Boy	Lord; Prince
Daren	Boy	Oaktree; Great; From Airelle; Edge
Brax	Boy	Strong; Bold; Fierce
Sion	Boy	One who is gracious like god
Caio	Boy	Rejoice; Joyful
Jerrell	Boy	Ruler of the spear
Rhydian	Boy	The crimson, reddish colour
Alwyn	Boy	Wise friend; Elf friend; River Alwen
Maxen	Boy	Greatest

Dyllan	Boy	To tide; To flow
Rooney	Boy	A Boy with red, ginger hair
Griffith	Boy	Lord; Prince
Mattox	Boy	Son of the fortunate one
Avon	Boy	River
Aaiden	Boy	Fiery or little fire
Hari	Boy	Brown; Yellow; Tawny; Hindu god Vishnu; Lion; Horse; Monkey; To shine; Ruler of the home; High
Macsen	Boy	The greatest one
Arwin	Boy	White; Fair; Blessed; People's friend
Corbett	Boy	Raven; Little crow

Vaughn	Boy	Little
Hughes	Boy	Fire; Inspiration
Bran	Boy	A raven; A blackbird that resembles a crow
Elwyn	Boy	Friend of the elves; Noble friend; Old friend
Race	Boy	Competition; Ardor
Caron	Boy	Name of a town; Beloved; Friend
Emyr	Boy	King; Lord; Prince; Commander
Gaven	Boy	Hawk; God-send; Hawk field
Griff	Boy	Strong lord; Prince
Jevin	Boy	Born from the yew tree; God is gracious; Well-born; Youth

Llewellyn	Boy	Leader; Lion; Strong
Tramaine	Boy	A person who is from a large town
Arvil	Boy	Cried over; Inheritance
Colen	Boy	Victory of the people; Dove; Hickory; Holly tree
Garth	Boy	Garden; The keeper of the garden
Lyn	Boy	Lake; Pretty
Trevyn	Boy	One who is from the fair town
Bren	Boy	King; Prince; Heat
Davyn	Boy	Beloved; Calf; Fox; Fawn; Little black one
Llewelyn	Boy	Leader or lion-like

Keeton	Boy	A place of hawks; River town; River enclosure; Ceg's farm
Kenrick	Boy	Royal power; Bold power; Chief hero; Son of Henry
Kara	Boy	To love; Dark; Beloved
Padraig	Boy	Nobleman
Trevian	Boy	One who is from a town of good people
Rees	Boy	A Boy with a fiery personality
Ryn	Boy	A person who is a ruler
Arthas	Boy	Noble leader, strong ruler
Carwyn	Boy	A blessed love; White
Chadrick	Boy	Settlement belonging to battle

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Welsh baby boy names are relevant worldwide today despite their ancient roots. They are sometimes even preferred over conventional English names because of the phonetic nature of the Welsh language. Welsh names possess a unique beauty when it comes to spelling and pronunciation. They may be challenging to grasp initially, but once you get the hang of it, they roll off the tongue. Thus, by naming your son in Welsh, you would be gifting him a memorable name and a legacy that goes back centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Welsh name means victory?

Gwilym, a variant of William, is one masculine Welsh name that means victory.

2. What is the meaning of the name Bryn in Welsh?

Bryn is a unisex Welsh name that means 'hill' or 'mound.' It is more commonly seen as a boy's name.

3. What is the origin of the Welsh name Rhys?

Rhys, a masculine Welsh name, is derived from the Old Welsh 'Ris,' which means 'enthusiasm' or 'ardor.'

4. What is the significance of family names in Welsh culture, and what is the traditional process of naming a Welsh baby boy?

Welsh culture has unique surnames because they can be derived from descriptive names or nicknames, occupational background, and location. It also follows a patronymic naming system. Sons usually have an 'ab' or 'ap' between their given name and their father's to signify 'son of.' For example, David ab Owen means David' son' of Owen. As for girls, 'ferch,' or 'verch,' is usually abbreviated to 'vch,' and it signifies 'daughter of.' (5)

5. What is the significance of the name Dylan in Welsh culture, and how does it relate to Welsh folklore?

The name Dylan is derived from two Welsh elements: 'dy,' which means 'toward,' and 'llanw,' which means 'tide' or 'flow.' Dylan has strong connections to Welsh folklore because Dylan ail Don is a character in the Welsh mythic Mabinogion tales. He is assumed to be a Welsh sea god because he morphed into a sea creature during his baptism.

Infographic: Wonderful Welsh Baby Boy Names With Meanings

The Welsh language has its roots in the Celtic languages and has undergone significant evolution. Welsh baby names are phonetically pleasing to the ears and are distinctive, giving the name's bearer a unique identity. The infographic below presents Welsh baby boy names along with their meanings.

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References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

What Are Welsh Names About?
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/welsh-names
Welsh Names for Children.
https://www.gov.wales/cymraeg-for-kids/welsh-names-for-children
Popularity of name Dylan.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Wales Personal Names
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Wales_Personal_Names

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.