Dylan means toward the tide. The sea-son of the Mabinogion’s First Branch, the wave that took him is the receipt. The Welsh register is the oldest named stock in Britain still worn daily: the tales’ own names, the -wen machine, the saints’ lane, and a male register of princes and poets. This table holds 82 of them, every row with its build, its meaning and its stratum named. The spellings are Cymric-only, and the card below explains every letter.
A register that never broke. The Mabinogion, written down in the Middle Ages from older telling, carries names still given to children this week: Dylan, Rhiannon in prose below, Branwen, Lleu. The -wen and -gwyn endings run as a live machine, snow and silver and flowers said blessed. The saints’ lane gave the map its Llan names and the christenings their Dwynwens. And the male register holds the princes, Rhodri Mawr’s line, and the borrowed saints worn Cymric, Ifan and Sion both from John. Where the etymologists argue, the row carries the debate. Rhiannon’s argument is in prose, because her row lives on the horse-names page.
Grouped by stratum. The stratum stays on every row.
Welsh names with builds, meanings and strata
Name
Built from
Meaning
Stratum
Copy
The classical stock: the Mabinogion and the Bruts: the oldest named register in Britain still worn
Dylan
dy + llanw, toward the tide
the sea-son of the First Branch: the wave that took him is the receipt
classical, the Mabinogion
Branwen
brân + gwen, white raven
the wronged queen of the Second Branch, Ireland’s sorrow
classical, the Mabinogion
Ceridwen
cerdd + wen? the blessed poetry? (contested)
the cauldron-keeper of the Taliesin tale, a later manuscript (dated)
classical, the Taliesin tale
Gwydion
gwyd + ? (the sense is debated)
the enchanter uncle who made a boy from flowers
classical, the Mabinogion
Lleu
the light one? cognate with Lugus (flagged)
Lleu Llaw Gyffes: the skilful hand, the Fourth Branch’s own
classical, the Mabinogion
Arianrhod
arian + rhod, silver wheel? (contested)
the mother of the Fourth Branch; the gloss is the common one, flagged
classical, the Mabinogion
Manawydan
the sea depth’s own? (contested)
the Third Branch’s patient hero, Llyr’s son
classical, the Mabinogion
Pwyll
pwyll, discretion, prudence
the head of Annwfn for a year: the First Branch’s king
classical, the Mabinogion
Pryderi
pryder, care, anxiety
the name is the worry itself: the son the Second and Third Branches turn on
classical, the Mabinogion
Blodeuwedd
blodau + gwedd, flower face
the woman made of blossoms, made an owl for her trouble
classical, the Mabinogion
Gofannon
gof, the smith + the divine ending
the smith of the family of Dôn
classical, the Mabinogion
Dôn
the mother goddess (cognate with Danu? flagged)
the mother of the enchanted children; the Welsh sky remembers her
classical, the Mabinogion
Bran
brân, the raven
the Blessed Raven: the giant king whose head guards the island
classical, the Mabinogion
Elen
elen? the light? via Greek Helen? (contested)
Elen of the Hosts: Macsen’s queen, the roads named for her
classical, the Mabinogion
Creiddylad
the May queen’s name (the parse is lost)
the daughter fought over at winter’s end, the Kalenda Mai lane
classical, the older tales
Gwendolen
gwen + dolen, the white ring? the fair bow? (contested)
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s queen, the name he gave Britain’s founding
classical, the Bruts
The -wen lane and the word-names: blessed endings, love verbs, birds and flowers: the register’s own machine
Arianwen
arian + wen, silver white
silver and blessed: the metal said as a girl’s name
the -wen lane
Blodwen
blodau + wen, flower white
flowers and blessed: the made-woman’s gentle cousin
the -wen lane
Bronwen
brân + wen, the white raven, second spelling
the Mabinogion form is Branwen; this wear is the modern one
the -wen lane
Eirwen
eira + wen, snow white
snow said blessed: the winter girl
the -wen lane
Tegwen
teg + wen, fair and blessed
fair twice over: the grammar doubling itself
the -wen lane
Olwen
ol + wen, the white track
the girl of the running flowers: Culhwch’s bride
the -wen lane
Gwawr
gwawr, the dawn
the dawn worn: the word-name of the register
word-names
Elain
elain, the fawn
the fawn worn: the register’s gentle animal name
word-names
Heledd
the seventh-century heroine’s name
the Canu Heledd keeps her: the poetry of a drowned country
word-names, the poetry
Llinos
llinos, the linnet
the bird worn: the modern word-name
word-names
Meinir
main + ? slender? (contested)
slender and fair, the glosses say, flagged
word-names
Nia
from the Irish Niamh, worn Welsh
the borrowed brightness: Ireland’s gift to the register
word-names, borrowed
Ffion
ffion, the foxglove
the flower worn: the poisonous bell as a girl’s name
word-names, botanical
Carys
caru, to love + the name ending
love worn: the verb made a name
the caru lane
Cerys
caru, the same root, second form
love again: the twin spelling of Carys
the caru lane
Nesta
the Welsh Nest, from Agnes? (contested)
the princess the poets called Helen of Wales
the princess lane
Angharad
an + carad, the unloved one? (contested)
the romances’ lady; the gloss is fought over
the romance lane
Rhiain
rhiain, the maiden
the maiden word worn
word-names
Glenda
glân + da, clean and good
the revival’s coinage from two plain words
revival register
Glynis
glyn, the valley + the name ending
the valley worn: the twentieth century’s coinage
revival register
Dilys
dilys, genuine, certain
the certainty word worn: the register’s plain promise
word-names
Sioned
the Welsh Janet
Janet said Cymric
the borrowed lane
Marged
the Welsh Margaret
Margaret said Cymric
the borrowed lane
The saint lane: the church of the saints: Llan names without number, twelve of the men
Dwynwen
dwyn + gwen? (the sense is debated)
the love-saint of Llanddwyn: Wales’s own Valentine
the saint lane
Dewi
the Welsh David
St David himself: the sixth-century founder, the leek and the dove
the saint lane
Non
non, the mother’s name
Dewi’s mother, her well at St Non’s
the saint lane
Beuno
beuno? (the sense is lost)
the miracle saint of Clynnog: the restored head, the tale says (flagged)
the saint lane
Illtud
ill + tud? (contested)
the soldier-monk who founded Llanilltud, Britain’s first great school
the saint lane
Cadog
cad, battle + ? (contested)
the scholar-saint of Llancarfan
the saint lane
Deiniol
daniel, through the Welsh wear
the first bishop of Bangor, the cathedral’s own
the saint lane
Seiriol
the sunny side saint (the byname’s receipt)
Penmon’s abbey, walked on the sun side
the saint lane
Teilo
the triads’ saint
one of the three blessed ones of the island, the churches say
the saint lane
Gwenfrewi
gwen + mrewi? (the sense is lost)
Winifred’s Welsh form: the Holywell spring’s saint
the saint lane
Cybi
the soldier saint’s name
Holyhead’s own: Caer Gybi keeps him
the saint lane
Derfel
der + fel? (the sense is lost)
Derfel Gadarn, the soldier-saint the pilgrims loved
the saint lane
The male register: princes, poets, borrowed saints and household shorts
Aled
the Aled river, worn
the river’s name on a boy
the male register
Alun
the Alun river, or Alan worn Welsh
the river or the Breton import: both routes real
the male register
Arwel
ar + gwell? upon the better? (contested)
the sense is debated; the wear is old
the male register
Bedwyr
the Bedwyr of the old poems
Arthur’s knight: the one who returned the sword, the later tales say (flagged)
the male register, Arthurian
Carwyn
caru + gwyn, blessed love
love said blessed: the verb made a boy’s name
the male register
Emrys
ambrosios, immortal (Greek, worn Welsh)
Myrddin Emrys: the prophecy name of the dragon kings
the male register
Eurig
aur, gold + the ending
the golden one: the metal said Cymric
the male register
Gethin
from Gruffudd’s wear? swarthy? (contested)
the dark-complexioned gloss, flagged
the male register
Geraint
gerontios, the old one (Greek, worn Welsh)
Geraint son of Erbin: the Devon-Cornish knight of the romances
the male register, romance
Gruffydd
griff + udd, the strong lord? (contested)
the princes’ name: Llywelyn’s father and son both wore it
the male register
Guto
Gruffudd, said small
the poet Guto’r Glyn keeps it: the name said warm
the male register
Harri
the Welsh Harry
Henry said Cymric; the English form rows on the British page
the borrowed lane
Iago
the Welsh James
James said Cymric; the villain wore it later in Venice
the borrowed lane
Ianto
Ifan, said small
John said twice small: the household classic
the borrowed lane
Idwal
idd + wal? (the sense is fought over)
the Gwynedd princes’ name, flagged
the male register
Iestyn
justin, worn Welsh
Justin said Cymric: the just, borrowed
the borrowed lane
Ifan
the Welsh John
the Baptist’s name, said Cymric
the borrowed lane
Llyr
llyr, the sea
the sea father: Branwen’s father, the Lear behind Shakespeare’s (flagged, the route is real)
classical, the Mabinogion
Macsen
maximus, the greatest (Latin, worn Welsh)
the Dream of Macsen Wledig: Rome’s emperor dreamt in Welsh
the male register
Madog
mad + ? fortunate? (contested)
the voyage legend’s prince: the discovery tale is a tale (flagged)
the male register
Morys
the Welsh Morris
Mauritius’s dark one, borrowed and worn
the borrowed lane
Rhodri
rhod + ri, the wheel ruler? (contested)
Rhodri Mawr: the great king who first held most of Wales
the male register
Rhun
the Maelgwn line’s name
the son the hosts marched for, the histories say
the male register
Sion
John through the English wear, said Welsh
the other Welsh John: Ifan in the north’s dress, Sion in the south’s
the borrowed lane
Steffan
the Welsh Stephen
Stephen said Cymric: the crown and the martyr share it
the borrowed lane
Trefor
tref + fawr, the great homestead?
the place-name worn: the big town’s boy
the male register
Urien
the historical king of Rheged
the bard-praised king: Taliesin sang him
the male register, the poetry
Cadell
cad, battle + the diminutive?
the Glywysing line’s name
the male register
Cynan
cun? the hound-champion? (contested)
the Gwynedd kings and the poet both wore it
the male register
Einion
enaid? the soul? the anvil? (contested)
the princes’ name, the sense debated
the male register
Selyf
solomon, worn Welsh
Solomon said Cymric: the wise king borrowed
the borrowed lane
Given names here, ap- there
The guard line, above the fold where it belongs. This page owns Welsh given names. The Welsh last names page owns the surname register: the ap- fusions (ap Rhys to Price, ab Owain to Bowen) and the great fixed surnames, Jones, Davies, Evans, Williams, with their own receipts. A few given-name strings, Dafydd and Rhys and Owain among them, row inside that page’s surname stories, so they row there and not here. Both pages name the other, and neither rows the other’s stock.
The umbrella above both registers is the Celtic names page, which rows the Cornish and Breton cousins of this stock, and the four-nations view is the British names page.
The Mabinogion receipts
The tales name their own. Dylan is the First Branch’s sea-son. Branwen is the Second Branch’s sorrow. Manawydan carries the Third. The Fourth belongs to Lleu, the boy made from flowers by Gwydion’s trickery against Arianrhod’s curse, and Blodeuwedd is the wife the same trickery made, turned owl for betraying him. Pryderi runs through all four. These are not revivals or inventions: they are the register’s oldest receipts, still in the christening columns.
Rhiannon, the First Branch’s own queen, is prose here by the collision rule: her string rows on the horse names page, where her white mare belongs. Her etymology debate, rigantona against the skeptics, is answered in the FAQ above.
The Cymric spellings
Seven letters do most of the work English does differently. F is the English v, so Ffion starts with an f-sound needing ff. Dd is the th of this, so Dafydd and Idris’s mountain-friends say it. Ll is a breathy l with no English twin, Lleu and Llinos and Llyr. W is a vowel, u: Gwawr rhymes with now-r, near enough. Y is a short i or a quiet uh. U sounds like i in the north, like ee further down. The double letters mark single sounds, because Welsh spells what it says.
Idris, the giant of Cadair Idris, is prose here: the string rows on the Egyptian last names page as a different tradition’s receipt, so this register keeps the mountain and lets the string go.
The revival register
The register grew back twice, and both times on purpose. After the Sunday-school century pressed English names on the chapels, the late 1800s brought the classical stock back into the christening columns, and the twentieth century added word-names, Gwawr and Llinos and Ffion, and coinages like Glenda and Glynis from plain Cymric words. Seren, star, leads the modern girls’ register today; her string rows on this site’s pet-name bank, so the receipt stays in this sentence and the row stays there.
The saint lane never needed reviving: Dwynwen still gets her cards every 25 January, which is more than most saints can say.
What do welsh names mean?
What their parts say, in the grammar of the stratum they came from. A Mabinogion name carries its tale. A -wen name states its blessing. A saint’s name keeps its church. Eight receipts, one or two per stratum:
Welsh name meaning spotlight
Name
Built from
Meaning
Dylan
dy + llanw
toward the tide: the sea-son of the First Branch
Blodeuwedd
blodau + gwedd
flower face: the woman made of blossoms
Olwen
ol + wen
the white track: the girl of the running flowers
Dwynwen
dwyn + gwen? (debated)
the love-saint of Llanddwyn
Macsen
maximus, the greatest
Rome’s emperor, dreamt in Welsh
Rhodri
rhod + ri? (contested)
Rhodri Mawr, the great king
Carys
caru, to love
love worn: the verb made a name
Ffion
ffion, the foxglove
the flower worn: the bell as a name
Every one of the 82 rows above carries the same receipt in its own columns.
Welsh names questions, answered
What do Welsh names mean?
Four grammars make them. The classical stock carries the Mabinogion’s own: Dylan from the tide, Blodeuwedd flower-face. The -wen and -gwyn endings state blessedness or whiteness on a plain word, snow for Eirwen, silver for Arianwen. The saint lane is the church’s register, Dwynwen and Dewi. And the borrowed lane wears the outside world in Welsh spellings, Ifan and Sion both from John. Every row above names its grammar, and the contested parses are flagged, never smoothed.
What does Rhiannon mean?
That is a live argument, and this page will not pick a winner quietly. The common gloss is great queen, from rigantona, the divine queen form attested in Gaulish. Some scholars read the Rigantona connection differently and doubt the great queen gloss altogether: the debate is the receipt. Rhiannon’s string already rows on this site’s horse names page, where her white mare matters, so her row lives there and her etymology debate lives here, in prose, both directions linked.
Why is Welsh spelling so different?
Because Welsh kept letters English repurposed. F sounds like English v (Ffion, Ffred). Dd sounds like th (Dafydd, though his row lives on the surname page). Ll is the unvoiced l, a letter English has no sign for at all (Lleu, Llinos). W is a vowel, u (Gwawr, Llyr’s wife would tell you). U and i sound close in the north. None of it is decoration; all of it is a spelling system that never lost contact with Latin letters, it just used them honestly.
Where are the ap- names, like ap Rhys?
On the surname page, by design. The patronymic fusions, ap Rhys to Prys to Price, ab Owain to Bowen, and the fixed surnames Jones and Davies and Evans, are the Welsh surname register: they row on the Welsh last names page, with the ap- machine explained there. This page owns given names only. The umbrella above both is the Celtic names page, and the four-nations view is the British names page.
Where this data comes from.Mabinogion rows follow the standard English translations of the four branches and the native tales, with the Ceridwen row dated honestly to the later Taliesin manuscript. Contested parses (Arianrhod, Gwydion, Lleu, Pwyll’s byname grammar, Angharad, Meinir, Gethin, Idwal, Rhodri, Einion, Arwel, Dwynwen) are flagged in-row. Saint rows follow the standard hagiographies, with miracle matter (Beuno’s restored head) flagged as the tale. The borrowed lane’s identifications (Ifan and Sion from John, Selyf from Solomon, Macsen from Maximus, Emrys from Ambrosius) follow the standard Welsh onomastic dictionaries. Rhiannon, Cai, Idris, Seren, Mair, Bleddyn and Aelwen are covered in prose only, their strings rowed on other pages of the site (horse names, Chinese surnames, Egyptian last names, the cat-name bank, Jamaican last names, wolf names and the random-name generator respectively), per the site’s collision rule. Where every name’s receipt comes from →